B 0 S T 0 N  R EYI Yd|« ' 

1842. 


•'\ 


a 


y 


V' 


BRIEF  HISTORY 


OF   THE 


EU.NGELIGAL  CHURCBES  OF  BOSTON, 


TUGETilLU   WITH 


A  MORE  PARTICULAR  ACCOUNT  OF  THE 


HE'^lV^ArJ.  OV  1842.     . 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED  BY  JOHN  PUTNAM, 

81  Cornhill. 


\ 


A 


1843. 


BR  560  .B7  MG-TlS 
Moore,  Martin,  1790-1866 
Boston  revival,  1842 


I 


BOSTON  n^ilY'^p  ^951 


1842. 


A  BRIEF  HISTORY 

OF   THE 


EVANGELICAL  CHURCHES  OF  BOSTON, 


TOGETHER  AVITH 


"X   MORE    PARTICULAR  ACCOUNT    OF    THE 


REVIVAL    OF    1842. 


BY  MARTIN  MOORE, 


"Of  a  truth  I  perceive  that  God  is  no  respecter  of  persons; 
but  in  every  nation,  he  that  feareth  him,  and  worketh  right- 
eousness, is  accepted  with  him." — Apostle  Peter. 


BOSTON: 
PUBLISHED  BY  JOHN  PUTNx\]M, 

81  Cornhill. 

1842. 


Entered  ac-cording  to  act  of  Coiig^ress,  in  tlie  year  1842, 

BY  JOHN  PUTNAM, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  JMassacliusetts. 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction, 7 

CHAPTER  I. 

The  Churclies  around  MnssachuseUs  Bay  founded  in  the 
spirit  of  Revival — Apostacy  of  the  second  ^feneration  of 
the  New  England  fathers  lamented  by  Dr.  Increase 
Mather,  President  of  Harvard  College— Revival  of  1740,    13 

CHAPTER  H. 

Hopes  respecting  the  Revival  of  17+0 — Causes  of  the  de- 
clension of  religion — Commencement  of  its  revival  soon 
after  the  begiiniing  of  the  present  century — Old  South 
Church — Park  street  Church — Union  Church,  Essex 
street, 25 

CHAPTER  HI. 

Green  street  Church — Philip's  Church,  South  Boston — 
Bowdoin  street  Church — Salem  Church — Pine  street 
Church — Maverick  Church,  East  Boston,    -        -        -      33 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Mariners'  Church — Central  Church — Marlboro'  Chape! — 
Garden  street  Church — New  Congregatiowal  Church — 
Concluding  remarks — Statistical  table,        -        -        -      56 

CHAPTER  V. 

First  Baptist  Church — Baldwin  place  Church — Charles 
street  Baptist  Church — Federal  street  Baptist  Church,       68 


Vi  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

South  Boston  Baptist  Cliurch — Harvard  street  Church — 
First  Free  Baptist  Church — Bowdoin  square  Baptist 
Church — First  liidopendeiit  Baptist  Church — Conchid- 
iiig  remarks  upon  this  denomination — Statistical  view  of 
the  Baptist  Churches,  ----..      81 

CHAPTER  VH. 

Christ  Church— Trinity  Church— St.  Paul's  Church— St. 
Matthew's  Church,  South  Boston — Grace  Church — 
Free  Church  of  the  Episcopal  City  Mission  Society — 
Concluding  remarks — Statistics,  -        -        -        -      97 

CHAPTER  Vm. 

North  Bennett  street  Church — Bromfield  street  Church — 
South  Boston  Church,  -        -        -        -        -        -     105 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Church  street  Church — North  Russell  street  Church — 
Fifth  M.  E.  Church — May  street  Church — Conclusion 
of  M.  E.  Churches, 116 

CHAPTER  X. 

Seamen's  Bethel  (church — Freewill  Baptist  Church — Ger- 
man Lutheran  Church — German  Reformed  Lutheran 
Church — African  M.  E.  Church — VVesleyan  M.  E.  Zioii's 
Church, 125 

CHAPTER  XL 
Vicinity  of  Boston, -    132 

Note, 145 

Boston  Revival,  1S42, 147 


INTRODtJCf  ION. 

tt  Was  a  remark  of  President  Edwards,  that,  "  nothing 
tended  more  to  promote  the  work  of  grace  among  his? 
people  at  Northampton,  than  to  tell  them  what  Cod  was 
doing  in  other  places."  If  oral  narratives  produced  this 
effect,  then  may  we  expect  that  written  narratives  will 
accomplish  the  same  purpose.  With  a  desire  to  honor 
God,  and  advance  the  interests  of  his  kingdom,  Edwards 
Wrote  and  published  a  work  entitled  *'  Surprising  Conver- 
sions at  Northampton,"  Mr.  VVliitefield,  before  he  came 
to  this  country,  read  this  narrative,  and  was  deeply  inter-- 
ested  in  it.  This  induced  him  to  visit  Edwards^,  that 
he  might  see  and  converse  With  the  man  by  whom  (jod 
had  wrought  such  wonders.  If  Edwards  judged  it  expe- 
dient in  his  day,  to  collect  and  publish  facts  concerning 
the  revival  at  Northampton,  We  shall  not  be  thought  to 
undertake  a  needless  work,  if  we  shall  attempt  to  gather 
Up  the  history  of  the  revival  that  took  place  in  this  city 
during  the  last  winter  and  spring. 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  facts  recorded  in  this  little  vol- 
ume, that  God  does  not  conftne  his  Spirit  to  one  denom- 
ination, or  to  one  mode  of  worship.  Wherever  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Cross  are  preached,  accompanied  with  prayer, 
they  are  the  power  of  God  and  the  wisdom  of  God  unto 
Salvation. 

I  hope  that  one  effect  of  gathering  the  facts  respecting 
the  late  revival  in  this  city,  will  be  to  break  down  secta- 
rian bigotry,  and  lead  God's  people  to  feel  towards  each 
Other  as  God  hiniself  feels  towards  them.  God  loves 
and  blesses  them,  and  they  should  love  and  bless  each 
other.  I  shall  not  enter  into  a  discussion  of  the  mooted 
question  respecting  evangelists,  but  shall  state  the  results 
of  the  labors  of  pastors  and  evangelists.  If  God  wag 
pleased  to  bless  the  labors  of  pastors  or  evangelists,  we 
will  record  the  Facts  and  give  him    the   glory*     In   many 


till  tNTRODrCTlON. 

cases  I  have  allowed  individuals  to  speak  for  themselves; 
in  others,  I  have  used  printed  documents  as  authorities; 
and  in  others  still,  responsible  individuals  have  stated 
facts,  and  1  have  clothed  them  in  my  own  language. 
But  after  all,  it  may  be  possible  that  I  have  not  stated 
some  of  the  most  important  facts  that  have  taken  place 
in  some  congregations.  If  it  should  prove  to  be  the  case, 
it  will  not  be  the  fault  of  the  editor  of  this  work.  Cir- 
culars* were  sent  to  each  of  the  congregations,  making 
inquiries  respecting  the  revival;  and  such  facts  as  have 
been  furnished,  have  been  incorporated  into  this  work. 
I  feel  under  particular  obligations  to  the  brethren  who 
have  furnished  materials  for  this  history.  Should  ano- 
ther edition  be  called  for,  and  should  any  new  and  im- 
portant facts  come  to  light,  they  will  be  inserted.  It  is 
the  wish  of  the  editor  to  make  this  as  complete  a  history 
of  the  late  revival  as  possible. 

My  desire  and  prayer  to  God  is,  that  he  will  bless  this 
effort  to  record  the  wonders  of  his  grace. 

M.  M. 

Boston,  Dec,  1842. 

*As  frequent  allusions,  in  the  course  of"  tliis  work,  are  made 
to  questions  proposed,  I  <ieem  it  proper  to  slate,  tlinl  in  July 
last  I  sent  circulars  to  the  pastor  or  some  responsible  individ- 
ual in  each  evang^elical  congreg'alion  in  the  city,  making  cer- 
tain Inquiries.  'J'he  facts  contained  in  this  little  book  are  the 
results  of  those  inquiries.  This  circular  asked  the  following 
questions: 

1.  At  what  time  did  the  revival  commence  in  your  congre- 
gation ? 

2.  What  number  were  hopefully  converted,  or  have  pro- 
fessed religion  ? 

3.  What  instrumentalities  were  principally  blessed  in  the 
progress  of  the  work  ? 

4.  What  special  incidents  occurred  worthy  of  particular  no- 
tice? 

3.  Has  the  revival  partially  or  wholly  subsided?  If  so, 
•what  apparently  were  the  csuses  of  the  withdrawing  of  the 
Holy  fSpiril  ? 

It  was  supposed  that  if  these  questions  were  answered,  all 
the  information  desired  would  be  obtained.  Such  information 
as  1  have  obtained  I  shall  proceed  to  lay  before  the  reader. 


BOSTON  REVIVAL. 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  churches  around  Massachusetts  Bay  founded  in  the  spirit 
of  revival — Apostacy  of  the  second  generation  of  the  New 
England  fathers  lamented  by  Dr.  Increase  Mather,  Presi- 
dent of  Harvard  College — Revival  of  1740. 

Some,  at  the  present  day,  have  spoken  of  revi- 
vals of  religion  as  though  they  were  new  things 
imder  the  sun.  Such  intimations  discover  either  a 
wilful  blindness,  or  an  ignorance  of  the  past  his- 
tory of  the  church.  I  do  not  intend  to  call  the  at- 
tention of  my  readers  to  those  numerous  and  pow- 
erful revivals  that  took  place  under  the  Jewish 
dispensation,  nor  to  those  that  occurred  under 
apostolic  preaching;  God  has  caused  these  to  be  re- 
corded for  the  benefit  of  his  church  in  all  coming 
time.  A  careful  study  of  these  portions  of  sacred 
history  must  enforce  this  truth,  that  God  has  been 
accustomed  to  build  up  his  kingdom  in  the  world 
mostly  by  the  instrumentality  of  revivals  of  reli- 
.     1 


14  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

gion.  I  shall  not  now  dwell  on  these  topics;  but 
shall  present  evidence  to  prove  that  the  churches 
of  New  England  were,  from  the  beginning,  revival 
churches.  The  facts  recorded  by  Gov.  Winthrop 
in  his  journal,  prove  this. 

He  says,  that  soon  after  Mr.  Cotton  was  installed 
over  the  Boston  church,  "  it  pleased  the  Lord  to 
give  his  special  testimony  to  this  church  after  Mr. 
Cotton  was  called  to  office  here.  More  were  add- 
ed to  that  church,  than  to  all  the  other  churches 
in  the  bay.  Divers  profane  and  notoriously  evil 
persons  came  and  confessed  their  sins,  and  were 
comfortably  received  into  the  bosom  of  the  church. 
Yea,  the  Lord  gave  witness  to  the  exercise  of 
prophecying,  [as  the  exhortations  of  the  brethren 
were  then  called]  so  as  thereby  some  were  con- 
verted and  others  greatly  edified."  He  gives  an 
experience  of  a  youth,  supposed  to  be  his  own  son. 

"Among  other  testimonies  of  the  Lord's  gracious 
presence  with  his  own  ordinances,  there  was  a 
youth  of  fourteen  years  of  age  (being  a  son  of  one 
of  the  magistrates)  so  wrought  upon  by  the  minis- 
try of  the  word,  as  for  divers  months  he  was  held 
under  great  affliction  of  mind,  as  he  could  not  be 
brought  to  apprehend  any  comfort  in  God,  being 
much  troubled  and  broken  for  his  sins  .(though  he 
had  been  a  dutiful  child,  and  not  given  up  to  the 
lusts  of  youth)  especially  for  his  blasj)Jiemous  and 
wicked  tlioughts,  whereby  satan  buffeted,  so  that 
he  went  mourning  and  languishing  daily;  yet  at- 
tending to  the  means  of  grace,  and  not  giving  over 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCHES.  15 

prayer  and  seeking  counsel,  &c./he  came  at  length 
to  be  freed  from  snch  temptation,  and  to  find  com- 
fort in  God's  promises ;  and  so  being  received  into 
the  congregation  npon  good  proof  of  his  under- 
standing of  the  things  of  God,  he  went  on 
cheerfully  in  a  christian  course,  falling  daily  to  la- 
bor as  a  servant,  and  as  a  younger  brother  of  his 
did,  who  was  not  a  whit  short  of  him  in  a  know- 
ledge of  God's  will,  though  his  youth  kept  him 
from  offering  himself  to  tlie  congregation."  The 
Boston  church,  under  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Cotton, 
enjoyed  such  a  season  of  special  grace,  as  is,  in 
modern  times,  termed  revival.  Under  the  minis- 
try of  Mr.  Phillips,  (the  ancestor  of  most  of  those 
who  have  since  borne  that  name  in  this  common- 
wealth) the  church  in  Watertown  was  blessed  with 
seasons  of  revival.  Says  Cotton  Mather,  "  About 
fourteen  years  continued  he  his  ministry  in  Water- 
town  ;  in  which  time  his  ministry  was  blessed 
unto  the  conversion  of  many  unto  God,  and  for 
the  confirmation  and  edification  of  those  who  were 
converted."  Mr.  Sheperd  of  Cambridge  was  em- 
inently a  revival  preacher.  It  was  on  account  of 
his  searching  preaching,  and  skill  in  detecting 
errors,  that  the  college  was  located  at  Cambridge. 
It  was  the  desire  of  the  founders  of  this  college  to 
raise  up  a  generation  of  ministers  to  carry  forward 
the  work  of  revivals  in  these  churches,  that  they 
had  begun.  Mr.  Prince,  in  his  chronology,  says  of 
Sheperd  of  Cambridge,  "I  was  told  when  a  youth, 
by  elderly  people,  that  he  scarce  ever  preached  a 


16  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

sermon,  but  that  some  one  or  other  of  his  congre- 
gation were  struck  with  great  distress  of  soul,  and 
cried  aloud  in  agony,  what  shall  1  do  to  be  saved? 
Though  his  voice  was  low,  yet  so  searching  was 
his  preaching,  and  so  great  a  j30vver  attending,  as 
an  hypocrite  could  not  easily  hear,  and  it  seemed 
almost  irresistible."  This  effect  was  not  produced 
upon  his  hearers  by  an  impassioned  eloquence  ;  it 
was  the  same  blessed  agent  that  attends  the 
preaching  of  the  word,  in  revivals  at  the  present 
day,  that  caused  it  to  be  quick  and  powerful  upon 
the  hearts  of  Sheperd's  hearers.  Persons  that 
stayed  at  home  on  the  Sabbath,  were  accustomed 
to  ask  those  who  had  attended  public  worship, 
when  they  returned  from  meeting,  "upon  ichose 
heart  has  the  word  of  God  taken  effect  to-day  ?"  Capt. 
Clapp,  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Dorchester,  gives 
the  following  account  of  the  state  of  things  in  that 
town.  "The  Lord  Jesus  Christ  was  so  plainly 
held  up,  in  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  unto  poor, 
lost  sinners,  and  the  absolute  necessity  of  the  new 
birth  ;  and  God's  Holy  Spirit,  in  those  days,  was 
blessed  to  the  accompanying  the  word  with  such 
efficacy  upon  the  hearts  of  many,  that  our  hearts 
were  taken  oiffroni  old  England  and  placed  upon 
heaven.  The  discourse,  not  only  of  the  aged,  but 
of  the  youth  also,  was  not.  How  shall  we  go  to 
England,  (though  some  did  not  only  so  discourse, 
but  also  went  back  airain)  but  how  shall  we  go  to 
heaven?  Have  I  true  grace  in  my  heart?  Havel 
Christ  or  no?     Oh,  how   did   men   and   women. 


CONGREGATIONAL.    CHURCHES.  17 

young  and  old,  pray  for  grace,  beg  for  Christ  in 
those  days;  and  it  was  not  in  vain;  many  were 
converted,  and  others  established  in  believing  • 
many  joined  unto  the  several  churches  where  they 
live,  confessing  their  faith  publicly,  and  showing 
before  all  the  assembly,  their  experiences  of  the 
work  of  God's  Spirit  in  their  hearts  to  bring  them 
unto  Christ.  Oh,  the  many  tears  that  were  shed 
in  Dorchester  meeting-house,  at  such  times,  both 
by  those  who  have  declared  God's  work  upon  their 
souls,  and  also  bv  them  that  heard  them  !  In  those 
days,  God,  even  our  God,  did  bless  New  England. 
In  those  days,  God  manifested  his  presence  among 
us,  in  converting  many  souls,  in  gathering  dear 
ones  into  church  fellowship  by  solemn  covenants, 
wherein  they  gave  up  themselves  and  their  seed  to 
the  Lord." 

I  might  multiply  witnesses  to  prove  that  the 
churches  of  New  England  were  at  first  Revival 
Churches.  But  in  the  mouth  of  two  or  three  wit- 
nesses every  word  is  established.  I  am  entirely 
willing  to  rest  the  truth  of  the  fact  that  1  set  out  to 
prove,  upon  the  strength  of  the  testimony  already 
adduced.  Neither  the  com{)etency,  nor  veracity  of 
these  witnesses,  can  be  called  in  question.  Said 
one  of  the  early  fathers  of  New  England,  "  God 
sifted  three  kingdoms,  that  he  might  send  over 
choice  grain  into  this  wilderness."  The  seed  was 
wholly  of  the  right  kind.  The  spirit  of  revival 
planted  these  churches.  Things  of  religion  vvere 
the    most  prominent  objects    of   their    atten^' 


18  BOSTOJV    REVIVAl*. 

The  venerable  John  liigginson,  the  first  minister 
of  Salem,  says,  "let  merchants  and  such  as  are  in- 
creasing cent  per  cent  remember  this;  let  others 
that  come  over  since,  at  several  times,  understand 
this,  that  worldly  gain  was  not  the  end  and  design 
of  the  people  of  New  England,  but  religion.     And 
if  any  man  among  us  make  religion  as  twelve,  and 
the  world  as  thirteen,  let  such  an  one  know  that 
he  has  neither  the  spirit  of  a  true  New  England 
man  nor  yet  of  a  sincere  christian."     Such  were 
the  men  that  planted  the  churches  around  Massa- 
chusetts bay.     They  laid  the  foundation  of  these 
churches  in  the  spirit  of  revivals.     The  Holy  Ghost 
overshadowed  them.     God,  even  our  God,  did  bless 
them.     In  those  days  there  were  none  that  denied 
the  Lord  that  bought  them.     With  one  voice,  the 
pilgrim  churches  crowned  the  Saviour  Lord  of  all. 
During  the  first  thirty  years   of  their  existence, 
they  enjoyed  the  continued  influences  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.     In  the  second  generation,  there  began   to 
be  a  decay  of  vital   godliness.     This  was  deeply 
lamented  by  Increase  Mather,  and  other  ministers 
of  that  age.     President  Mather,  in   1678,  thus  re- 
marks: "  Praver  is  needful  on  this  account,  in  that 
conversions  are    become  rare  in  this  age  of  the 
world.     They  that  have  had  their  thoughts  -exer- 
cised in  discovering  things  of  this  nature,  have  had 
sad  apprehensions  with  reference  unto  this  matter, 
that   the  work   of  conversions  is  not  frequent  in 
some  congregations.     The  body  of  the  rising  gen- 
eration is  a  poor,  perishing,  unconverted,  and,  ex- 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHUKCHES.  19 

cept^the  Lord  pour  down  his  Spirit,  an  undone 
generation.  Many  are  profane,  drunkards,  lasciv- 
ious, scoffers  at  the  power  of  godliness,  despisers 
of  those  that  are  good,  disobedient ;  others  are  only 
civil  and  outwardly  conformed  to  good  order,  by 
reason  of  their  education  ;  but  never  knew  what 
the  new  birth  means.  Look  into  our  pulpits,  and 
see  if  there  is  such  glory  there,  as  there  once  was; 
New  England  has  had  teachers  eminent  for  holi- 
ness and  ministerial  accomplishments.  When  will 
Boston  see  a  Cotton,  and  a  Norton  again  ?  When 
will  New  England  see  a  Hooker,  a  Sheperd,  a 
Mitchel?  not  to  mention  others.  How  many 
churches,  how  many  towns  are  there  in  New  Eng- 
land, that  we  may  sigh  over  them  and  s.iy,  the  glory 
is  departed."  Arminianism  had  gradually  stolen 
into  our  churches.  The  half-way  covenant  had 
been  adopted,  and  the  tone  of  piety  lowered  down. 
Before  the  revival  of  1740,  the  sentiment  that  con- 
version was  not  essential  to  the  ministry,  found 
numerous  advocates. 

Mr.  Whitefield's  preaching  was  blessed  to  mul- 
titudes in  Boston,  as  well  as  in  other  parts  of  the 
land.  After  Mr.  Whitefield's  departure,  Mr.  Gil- 
bert Tennent  came  and  watered  what  he  had 
planted.  Dr.  Prince  has  given  us  a  particular  ac- 
count of  this  revival :  "And  now,"  says  he,  "there 
was  such  a  time  as  we  never  knew.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Cooper  was  wont  to  say,  that  more  came  to  him  in 
one  week,  in  deep  concern  about  their  souls,  than 
in  the  whole  twenty-four  years  of  his  preceding 


'20  BOSTON    REVIVAL, 

ministry.     I  can  also  say  tlie  same  as  to  the  num- 
bers that  repaired  to  me.     By  Mr.  Cooper's  letters 
to  Scotland,  it  appears  he  has  had  about  600  dif- 
ferent persons    in    three    months'   time;   and   Mr. 
Webb  informs   me  that  he   has  had  in  the  same 
space,  above   1,000.     Agreeable   to   the  numerous 
bills  of  the  awakened,  put  up  in  public,  sometimes 
rising  to  the  number  of  sixty  at  once,  there  re- 
paired to  us  both   boys  and  girls,  young  men  and 
women,  Indians  and    negroes,   heads   of  families, 
aged   persons ;  those   who  had  been  in   full  com- 
munion, and  going  on  in  a  course  of  religion  many 
years.     And  their  cases  represented,  were  a  blind 
mind,  a  vile,  and   hard   heart;  and  some   under  a 
deep  sense  thereof;  some  under  great  temptations; 
some   in    great  concern   for  their  souls ;  some  in 
great  distress  of  mind  for   fear   of  being  uncon- 
verted ;  others  for  fear  they   had   been   all   along 
building  on  a  righteousness  of  their  own,  and  were 
still  in  the  gall  of  bitterness  and  bond  of  iniquity. 
Some  under  flighty,  and  others  under  strong  con- 
victions of  their  sins  and  sinfulness,  guilt  and  con- 
demnation, the  wrath  and  curse  of  God  upon  them, 
their  impotence  and  misery  ;  some  for  a  long  time, 
even    several    months,   under    these    convictions; 
so\ne  fearing  lest  the  Holy  Spirit  should  withdraw; 
others  having    quenched    his  operations,   were  in 
great  distress,  lest  he  should  leave  them   forever ; 
persons  far  advanced  in  years,  afraid  of  being  left 
behind,  while  others  were  hastening  to  their  great 
Retfeemer.     Nor  were  the  same  persons  satisfied 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCHES.  21 

with  corning  once  or  twice,  as  formerly,  but  again 
and  again,  I  know  not  how  often,  complaining  of 
their  evil  and  cursed  hearts,  &c.  The  people 
seemed  to  love  us  more  than  ever.  Public  and 
private  lectures  were  greatly  multiplied.  Nor 
were  the  people  satisfied  with  all  their  lectures. 
But  private  societies  for  religious  exercises,  both 
for  younger  and  elder  persons,  both  of  males  and 
females,  by  themselves,  in  several  parts  of  the  town, 
now  increased  to  a  much  greater  number  than 
ever,  viz.,  to  the  number  of  thirty ;  meetings  on 
Lord's  day,  Monday,  Wednesday  and  Thursday 
evenings ;  so  the  people  were  constantly  employ- 
ing their  ministers  to  pray  and  preach  at  those  so- 
cieties, as  also  at  many  private  houses  where  no 
formed  society  met ;  and  such  numbers  flocked  to 
hear  us,  as  greatly  crowded  them,  as  well  as  more 
than  usually  filled  our  houses  of  public  worship, 
both  on  Lord's  days  and  lecture  days,  especially 
evening  lectures,  for  about  a  twelve-month  after. 

"Some  of  our  ministers,  to  oblige  the  people, 
have  sometimes  preached  in  public  and  private,  at 
one  house  or  another,  even  every  evening,  except 
after  Saturday,  for  a  week  together  ;  and  the  more 
we  prayed  and  preached,  the  more  enlarged  were 
our  hearts,  and  the  more  delightful  the  employment. 
And  O,  how  many,  how  serious  and  attentive  were 
our  hearers!  how  many  awakened  and  hopefully 
converted  by  their  ministers  !  And  how  many  of 
such  added  to  our  churches,  as  we  hope  will  be 
saved  eternally !  Scarce  a  sermon  seemed  to  be 
preached  without  some  good  impressions. 


22  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

"  As  to  the  church  to  which  I  belonged,  within 
six  months  from  the  end  of  January,  1741,  were 
threescore  joined  to  our  communicants,  the  greater 
■part  of  whom  gave  a  more  exact  account  of  the 
work  of  the  Spirit  of  God  on  their  souls  in  effectual 
calling,  as  described  in  the  Westminster  Assem- 
bly's Shorter  Catechism,  than  I  was  wont  to  meet 
with  before  ;  besides  many  others  I  could  not  but 
have  charity  for,  who  refrained  from  coming  to  the 
table  of  the  Lord,  for  want  of  a  satisfying  view  of 
the  work  of  conversion." 

By  Dr.  Colman's  letter  of  June  8,  1741,  it  ap- 
pears that  in  1741,  in  April,  there  were  nine  or 
ten,  and  in  May,  nineteen  added  to  the  church  ; 
"among  whom"  (says  the  Doctor)  "were  many  of 
the  rich  and  polite  of  our  sons  and  daughters." 
And  JR,ev.  Mr.  Weld,  senior  pastor  of  the  new 
North,  just  now  informs  me,  with  respect  to  his 
church  and  people,  in  the  following  words:  "Ad- 
missions to  full  communion,  of  those  hopefully 
wrought  upon  in  the  late  day  of  grace,  about  160  ; 
of  which  102  from  January  1741  to  1742.  Of  the 
above  mentioned,  by  far  the  greater  part  have 
since  given  hoi)eful  signs  of  saving  conversion. 
And  many  more  give  good  evidence  of  grace ;  but 
cannot  be  prevailed  upon  to  come  to  the  table  of 
the  Lord." 

The  reason  why  many  in  this  and  other  con- 
gregations kept  back  frouj  professing  religion,  was 
that  Mr.  Tennent,  who  followed  Whitefield,  had 
cautioned  people  against  taking  covenant  vows  and 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCHES.  2JJ 

obligations  upon  them  without  evidence  of  regen- 
eration. In  view  of  these  cautions,  many,  of  whom 
their  pastors  thought  favorably,  were  kept  back 
from  the  table  of  the  Lord.  Mr.  Tennent  did  not 
wish  to  encourage  either  hypocrites,  or  the  impen- 
itent to  come  into  the  visible  church.  In  this  re- 
vival, persons  were  not  hastily,  nor  without  much 
pains-taking,  admitted  to  the  table  of  the  Lord. 

"In  the  year  1741,  the  very  face  of  the  town 
seemed  strangely  altered,  Some  who  had  not 
been  here  since  the  fall  before,  have  told  me  their 
surprise  at  the  change  in  the  general  look  and 
carriage  of  the  people,  as  soon  as  they  landed. 
Even  the  negroes  and  boys  in  the  streets  surpri- 
singly left  their  usual  rudeness.  I  knew  many  of 
these  had  been  greatly  affected,  and  now  were 
formed  into  religious  societies.  And  one  of  our 
worthy  gentlemen  expressing  his  wonder  at  the 
remarkable  change,  informed  me,  that  whereas  he 
used  with  others  on  Saturday  evenings  to  visit  the 
taverns,  in  order  to  clear  them  of  the  town  inhab- 
itants, they  were  wont  to  find  many  there,  and 
meet  with  trouble  to  get  them  away;  but  now, 
having  gone  at  these  seasons  again,  he  found  them 
empty  of  all  but  lodgers.  And  thus  successfully 
did  this  divine  work,  as  above  described,  go  on  in 
town,  without  any  lisp,  as  I  remember,  of  a  sepa- 
ration, either  in  this  town  or  province,  for  above  a 
year  and  a  half  after  Mr.  Whitefield  left  us." 

Large  additions  were  made  to  the  eight  Congre- 
gational and  the  two  Presbyterian  societies  then  in 


24  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

town  ;  "  the  greater  part  of  them  gave  their  pastors 
a  more  exact  account  of  the  work  of  the  Spirit  of 
God  on  their  hearts  than  they  were  wont  to  do  be- 
fore." Nor  was  their  righteousness  like  the  early 
cloud,  or  morning  dew  that  passeth  away.  Of 
those  who  were  received  into  the  church  in  Brat- 
tle street,  Mr.  Colman  remarked  more  than  three 
vears  after  the  commencement  of  the  revival,  "  the 
good  fruits  of  their  abiding  profession  unto  this 
day,  in  a  meek,  discreet,  virtuous  and  pious  con- 
versation, give  ,me  pleasure  and  satisfaction  in 
them  from  day  to  day." 

Mr.  Prince  testifies  at  still  a  later  period,  "of 
our  numerous  additions,  with  one  exception,  the 
convereation  as  far  as  I  know,  is  as  becomes  the 
gospel.  Nor  do  I  hear  of  any  in  any  of  the  other 
churches  in  town,  that  have  fallen  into  censurable 
evil,  except  a  few  at  the  New  North." 

This  revival  affected  the  great  mass  of  the  pop- 
ulation, young  and  old,  high  and  low,  bond  and 
free.  The  town  was  in  a  great  measure  brought 
back  to  the  state  of  the  first  age  of  New  England* 
It  was  no  new  spirit  infused  into  the  churches.  It 
was  the  revival  of  the  same  spirit  in  which  they 
had  been  planted.  It  was  a  return  of  the  same 
spirit  that  anitnated  Cotton,  Winthrop,  Wilson  and 
Sheperd.  Tlie  same  IJoly  Spirit  that  planted, 
watered  the  churches  in  Boston.  The  Holy  Spirit 
was  in  the  midst  of  these  churches  in  the  first  age 
of  New  England,  and  now  he  returned  to  take  up 
his  abode  with  them  again. 


CONGUEGATIONAL    CHURCHES.  25 


CHAPTER  IL 

tiopes  respecting  the  Revival  of  1740-^Causes  of  the  declen* 
sion  of  Religion— The  commencement  of  its  Revival  soon 
after  the  beginning  of  the  present  century— Old  South  Church 
^Park  Street  Church— Union  Church,  Essex  street. 

The  hopes  of  niany^  at  the  commencement  of  the 
revival  of  1740,  were  highly  raised.  It  was  said  by 
one  who  was  well  qualified  to  judge  of  its  charac- 
ter, that,  "at  its  commencement,  it  appears  to  have 
been  in  an  imiisual  degree,  a  silent,  powerful  and 
glorious  work  of  the  Spirit  of  God— the  simple  ef- 
fect of  the  truth  applied  to  the  conscience,  accom- 
panied by  his  converting  grace.  So  auspicious,  in- 
deed, was  the  opening  of  the  memorable  work  of 
God,  and  so  rapid  its  progress,  that  the  promised 
teign  of  Christ  was  believed  by  many  to  be  actually 
beffun.  Had  it  continued  of  this  unmixed  charac- 
ter,  so  extensive  was  its  prevalence,  and  so  power- 
ful its  operation,  it  would  seem  that  in  no  great 
length  of  time  it  would  have  pervaded  this  western 
world."  It  was,  however,  begun  to  be  opposed  by 
the  enemies  of  vital  religion,  and  that  with  a  vio- 
lence proportioned  to  its  prevalence  and  power* 
But  open,  virulent  opposition,  did  not  do  it  so  much 
injury  as  its  professed  friends.  After  it  had  sue- 
2 


28  BOSTON    REViVAL* 

cessfully  progressed  for  a  time,  some  of  its  profess* 
ed  friends  thought  that  some  new  measures  would 
advance  it  with  a  greater  rapidity.  Davenport  and 
others  committed  the  greatest  extravagances  con- 
ceivable. They  were  accustomed  to  address  the 
Supreme  Being  in  such  language  as  this :  "Thou, 
O  Lord  God,  knowest  as  well  as  we  know,  that 
such  a  man  is.  converted,  or  unconverted,"  as  the 
case  might  be.  They  cotild  also  determine  the 
character  of  individuals  at  first  sight.  Dr.  Colman 
of  this  city  says,  in  a  letter  dated  Nov.  23,  1741, 
"  We  haVe  seen  little  of  those  extremes  or  supposed 
blemishes  of  this  work  in  Boston  ;  but  much  of  the 
blessed  fruits  have  fallen  to  our  share.  God  has 
spoken  unto  us  in  a  more  soft  and  calm  mind  ;  and 
we  have  neither  had  those  outcries  and  faintings 
in  our  assemblies  which  have  disturbed  the  wor- 
ship in  many  places,  nor  yet  those  manifestations 
of  joy  inexpressible  which  now  fill  sonje  of  our 
eastern  parts."  These  extravagances  furnished 
the  opposers  of  the  work  with  occasion  to  bring 
it  into  disrepute.  In  Connecticut,  they  resorted  to 
open  persecution  ;  and  by  prosecution,  imprison- 
ment and  transportation  out  of  the  colony,  sought 
to  put  a  stop  to  the  work.  This  procedure  revo- 
lutionized the  state  ultimately,  and  brought  the 
friends  of  the  revival  into  greater  favor  than  ever. 
The  work  was  also  assailed  by  sneers,  reproaches, 
unfavorable  insinuations  and  slanderous  reports. 
The  abuses  of  it  were  much  insisted  on  and  exag- 
gerated ;  and  its  friends  were  treated  with  scorn 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCHES.  27 

and  contempt.  The  result  was,  that  the  work 
soon  almost  universally  ceased.  A  considerable 
number  of  ministers  and  laymen  settled  down, 
either  into  avowed  erroneous  opinions,  or  into 
strange  indifference  in  regard  to  religious  doc- 
trine; warmth  and  engagedness  in  religion  were 
condemned  as  things  of  "a  bad  and  dangerous 
tendency;"  a  denial  of  the  fundamental  doctrines 
of  the  gospel  as  things  of  small  importance;  and 
by  many,  all  serious  religion  was  looked  upon  as 
enthusiasm. 

In  addition  to  this,  the  political  condition  of  the 
country  was  such  as  constantly  to  agitate  the  pub- 
lic mind,  and  divert  the  attention  from  spiritual 
things.  A  war  between  France  and  Spain  and 
England,  lasted  from  1744,  to  '48.  War  again 
broke  out  in  1755,  and  continued  until  1760.  Soon 
after  this,  the  controversy  commenced  between 
the  colonies  and  the  mother  country,  and  contin- 
ued until  it  finally  broke  out  into  open  war.  Du- 
ring the  eight  years  of  the  revolutionary  war,  every 
nerve  of  the  country  was  strained  to  maintain  the 
national  conflict.  From  '44  to  '83,  during  a  period 
of  almost  40  years,  the  public  mind  was  continu- 
ally agitated  by  political  questions.  These  suc- 
cessive wars  did  much  to  break  down  the  sanctity 
of  the  Sabbath  and  corrupt  the  morals  of  the  com- 
munity. This  was  one  reason  why  religion  so 
greatly  declined  in  this  city  of  the  pilgrims.  The 
churches  that  had  been  distinguished  for  their  or- 
thodox faith  and  strict  practice,  gradually  became 
lax  in  sentiment  and  careless  in  morals. 


28  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  all  the 
Congregational  churches  in  Boston,  with  a  single 
exception,  had  renounced  the  faith  of  the  Puritans. 
The  Old  South  Church  still  stood  upon  the  plat- 
form of  the  fathers,  though  her  pastor  was  a  semi- 
Arian.  But  when  the  enemy  came  in  like  a  flood} 
the  Lord  lifted  up  a  standard  against  him.  In  the 
year  3803,  the  Baptist  churches  in  the  city  were 
visited  with  a  precious  revival,  in  which  the  Old 
South  shared  to  some  extent.  This  church  voted 
to  have  a  weekly  lecture  ;  but  the  pew  proprietors 
refused  to  open  the  house  for  that  purpose.  The 
brethren  who  felt  the  influence  of  the  revival, 
were  greatly  grieved  at  this  refusal,  and  began  to 
inquire  what  they  could  do  to  enjoy  gospel  privi- 
leges. Eight  brethren  formed  a.  ^^  Society  for  Reli- 
gious Improvement,^^  not  judging  it  prudent  to  term 
it  a  Conference  Meeting.  They  agreed  to  meet  at 
stated  seasons  and  read  the  bible,  and  converse  on 
its  truths;  but  at  the  commencement  there  Vv'as 
none  of  their  number  that  could  pray.  After  a  few 
meetings  were  held,  they  acquired  sufficient  con- 
fidence to  open  their  meetings  with  prayer.  In 
this  prayer  meeting  originated  the  purpose  to  build 
Park  street  Church.  Their  purpose  was  carried 
into  execution  irw-  1809,  and  a  church  gathered, 
consisting  of  13  male  and  13  female  members. 
The  meeting-house  was  dedicated  Jan.  13,  1810. 
This  little  church  and  their  first  pastor  were  as- 
sailed with  torrents  of  ridicule  and  reproach;  but 
in  the  name  of  the  pilgrim's  God  they  maintained 


CONGREGATIONAL.    CHURCHES.  29 

the  fight.  In  1819,  Essex  street  Church  was 
erected  and  dedicated  to  the  Father,  Son  and  Holy 
Ghost.  In  the  years  1823  and  '4,  the  God  of  the 
pilgrims  returned  and  visited  those  churches  where 
the  primitive  gospel  was  preached.  It  resulted  in 
gathering  into  Park  street  Church,  120  members ; 
to  the  Old  South,  101 ;  and  to  Essex  street,  62.  In 
1825,  a  church  was  erected  for  the  accommoda- 
liou  of  the  inhabitants  in  South  Boston,  and  a 
church  gathered  on  the  foundation  of  the  Puritans. 
The  friends  of  evangelical  religion  now  began  to 
bless  God  and  take  courage.  He  had  been  far 
better  to  them  than  their  fears.  He  had  given 
them  enlargement  far  beyond  their  expectations. 
In  1826,  two  more  new  houses  of  worship  were 
built  in  Hanover  and  Green  streets.  In  the  years 
1826  and  '7,  God  was  graciously  pleased  to  give 
these  churches  a  finther  enlargement.  The  whole 
nimiber  added  to  these  several  churches,  was  735. 
Dr.  Beecher  was  at  this  time  pastor  of  the  church 
in  Hanover  street,  and  was  greatly  instrumental  in 
advancing  the  cause  of  evangelical  religion  in  the 
city.  God  had  so  greatly  blessed  the  efforts  of 
his  friends  to  raise  up  the  fallen  standard  of  piety, 
that  in  1827  they  resolved  to  erect  two  more 
houses  for  the  worship  of  God.  This  resolution 
resulted  in  building  Salem  street  and  Pine  street 
Churches.  Since  that  period,  churches  have  been 
gathered  in  Purchase  street,  in  East  Boston,  in 
Winter  street,  in  Garden  street,  and  a  new  church 

under  Mr.  Kirk's  ministry.  ^ 

2* 


30  '  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

The  declension  in  the  Congregational  churches 
was  not  the  work  of  a  day.  They  at  first  em- 
braced the  Arminian  error;  but  that  was  not  a 
stopping  place  ;  they  still  proceeded  in  the  down- 
ward road.  When  charged  with  holding  to  the 
error  of  Unitarianism,  they  for  sometime  denied 
the  charge.  In  1815  they  first  admitted  the  fact 
that  they  had  embraced  this  system.  Since  that 
time  they  have  openly  advocated  the  Unitarian 
doctrine.  Harvard  University  was  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  pastors  of  the  Congregational  churches 
in  Boston  and  the  six  neighboring  towns.  When 
these  original  churches  went  over  to  Unitarianism, 
the  college  went  with  them.  About  this  j)eriod, 
the  charter  of  the  college  was  altered,  placing  it 
in  the  hands  of  clergymen  and  laymen  mostly  of 
Unitarian  sentiment,  and  giving  them  power  to  fill 
their  own  vacancies. 

Such  was  the  state  of  religion  in  1809,  when 
Park  street  Church  was  organized — and  such  is 
the  progress  which  true  religion  has  made  up  to 
the  present  time.  It  is  such  a  progress  as  has 
greatly  encouraged  the  hearts  of  Ziou's  friends  and 
has  redounded  to  the  glory  of  God. 

Since  the  meeting  of  those  eight  brethren  who 
had  not  sufficient  confidence  to  lead  in  social 
prayer,  what  wonders  hath  God  wrought ! 

The  Old  South  Church 

Was  the  third  Congregational  church  gathered  in 
this  city.     This  church  was  organized,  May  16th, 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCHES.  31 

1669.  The  history  of  the  origin  and  progress  of  this 
church  has  been  ably  written  by  the  late  Dr.  Wisner. 
She  of  all  the  original  churches  in  the  city,  had  not 
wholly  departed  from  the  faith  of  the  pilgrims.  "  In 
the  development  made  of  the  state  of  things  in 
1815,"  says  Wisner,  "among  the  Congregational 
ministers  and  churches  of  the  metropolis,  it  ap- 
peared that  all  the  other  ancient  churches,  with  the 
ministers,  had  chosen  to  depart  from  the  faith  of  their 
fathers  ;  and  that  this  church  of  all  its  old  associates, 
with  its  pastor,  stood  firm  upon  the  ancient  founda- 
tion, which  we  believe  to  be  that  •  of  the  apostles  and 
prophets,  Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the  chief  cor- 
ner stone.'  And  from  that  time  to  the  present,  we 
have,  we  trust,  by  the  grace  of  God,  been  built  up 
continually  on  this  foundation  ;  while  others,  who 
with  us  once  rested  upon  it,  have  in  the  exercise 
of  their  christian  liberty, — for  their  use  of  which 
they  are  responsible  only  to  God, — been  continually 
removing  from  it  more  and  more."  During  Rev. 
Mr.  Huntington's  ministry,  the  "American  Educa- 
tion Society"  and  the  "Boston  Society  for  the  Re- 
ligious and  Moral  Improvement  of  the  Poor,"  were 
established  principally  by  his  influence.  These 
societies  have  exerted  a  salutary  influence;  the 
one  in  raising  up  ministers  for  the  church  at  large, 
and  the  other  in  preaching  the  gospel  to  the  seamen 
and  destitute  poor  of  the  city.  This  church  has 
ever  been  distinguished  for  its  liberality  to  benevo- 
lent objects.  More  than  a  hundred  years  ago,  the 
following  votes  were  entered   on   the   records : — 


32  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

"  Voted,  that  twenty  pounds  be  delivered  to  Dea. 
Henclinian,  for  the  purchasing  of  bibles,  to  be  dis- 
tributed to  the  proper  objects,  as  there  may  be  oc- 
casion;  that  ten  pounds  be  distributed  in  other 
books,  at  the  discretion  of  the  trustees;  that  twenty 
pounds  be  given  to  Mr.  Josiah  Cotton  to  encourage 
liis  settlement  at  Providence  ^  that  fifteen  pounds 
be  given  to  the  Rev.  JMr.  Matthew  Short  of  Easton, 
for  his  encouragement  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  ; 
that  fifteen  pounds  be  given  to  Rev.  James  Hale  of 
Ashford,  for  his  encouragement  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  and  the  same  sum  given  to  Mr.  Prentice 
of  Dunstable.  And  about  the  same  time  fifteen 
pounds  were  given  to  Joseph  Lecombe  towards  his 
sup})ort  at  college."  Here  was  a  Bible,  3Iissionary, 
Tract  and  Education  Societv,  all  combined  in  the 
Old  South.  A  church  that  has  honored  the  Lord 
with  her  substance,  could  not  fail  of  receiving  his 
blessing.  The  whole  number  admitted  to  her  com- 
munion up  to  1842,  is  2477.  The  present  number 
of  the  church  is  502. 

This  ancient  church  sliared  in  the  revival  of  last 
winter  and  spring,  though  not  so  largely  as  some  of 
lier  younger  sisters.  The  attention  commenced 
later  than  in  some  of  the  other  churches.  There 
was  no  marked  seriousness  in  this  congregation 
until  February.  God  was  then  graciously  pleased 
to  visit  them  with  a  time  of  sj^ecial  refreshing.  The 
kingdom  of  God  did  not,  however,  come  with  obser- 
vation. It  was  through  the  ordinary  means  of 
grace.     There  was  an  increased  spirit  of  prayer,  a 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCHES.  33 

greater  frequency  of  meetings,  and  more  individual 
effort  for  the  salvation  of  souls.  As  the  result  of 
this  season  of  mercy,  42  persons  have  been  received 
into  the  church.  The  graces  of  this  elder  sister  in 
Zion  were  revived.  This  church  has  now  attained 
to  the  age  of  173,  and  has  still  all  the  freshness  and 
vigor  of  youth.  May  she  hold  on  her  way  with  in- 
creasing zeal,  until  the  Lord  shall  come  in  the 
clouds  of  heaven,  with  power  and  great  glory.  Rev. 
George  W.  Blagden  pastor. 

Park  Street  Church. 

This  church  was  gathered,  Feb.  27,  1809.  At  its 
formation  it  consisted  of  26  members,  21  of  whom 
came  from  other  churches.  Dr.  Griffin  was  its 
first  pastor.  He  was  bold  and  fearless  in  declaring 
the  doctrines,  as  they  were  held  by  the  fathers  of 
New  England.  The  ears  of  Bostonians  had  so  long 
been  accustomed  to  smoother  things,  that  they  tin- 
gled when  they  heard  the  gospel  in  its  primitive 
simplicity  and  purity.  But  the  return  of  evangeli- 
cal religion  to  Boston  was  greatly  promoted  by  his 
labors.  The  character  of  this  infant  church  was 
formed  under  his  ministry.  The  influence  which 
she  has  exerted  upon  the  city,  country,  and  the 
heathen  world,  was  principally  owing  to  the  im- 
pression made  upon  her  by  Griffin.  He  was  in- 
stalled July  31,  1811;  dismissed  April  27,  1815. 
Rev.  S.  E.  Dwight  was  ordained  Sept.  3,  1817,  and 
dismissed  April   10, 1826.    Rev.  E.  Beecher  was 


34  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

ordained  Dec.  27,  182G,  and  dismissed  Oct.  98, 
1830.  Rev.  Joel  H.  Linsley  was  installed  Dec.  5, 
1832,  and  dismissed  Sept.  28,  1835.  Rev.  Silas 
Aiken  was  installed  March  22,  1837.  The  whole 
number  admitted  to  this  church  since  its  organiza- 
tion is  1180,  of  whom  101  have  been  received  since 
the  commencement  of  the  present  year.  This 
church  has  enjoyed  repeated  times  of  refreshing 
from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.  During  the  years 
1812  and  '13,  the  Holy  Spirit  was  specially  present 
with  the  word.  Again  in  the  years  1822,  and  '23,  the 
Holy  Spirit  returned,  and  144  were  gathered  into 
this  church.  In  the  years  1827,  and  '8,  134  were 
added  to  their  number.  Since  the  present  pastor 
has  been  settled,  337  have  united  with  them. 

This  church  has  largely  participated  in  the  re- 
vival of  the  present  year.  The  instrumentalities 
used  were  various.  Rev.  Mr.  Kirk  labored  in  con- 
nection with  the  pastor  for  a  few  weeks,  with  much 
fidelity,  and  was  apparently  instrumental  in  ad- 
vancing the  cause.  Meetings  were  multiplied  as 
the  exigencies  of  the  people  seemed  to  demand. 
Various  means  seemed  to  be  specially  blessed. 
Whatever  was  done  in  simple  dependence  on  God 
was  succeeded.  The  interest  felt  last  spring  has 
partially  declined  ;  but  still  much  of  the  fruit  of  that 
blessed  work  remains.  The  number  of  praying 
people  has  been  multiplied,  and  most  of  the  young 
converts  still  aj^pear  interested  in  the  cause  that 
they  have  publicly  espoused.  One  of  the  most  in- 
teresting features  of  the  recent  work  of  grace  con- 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHlTRCHES.  35 

sista  in  the  religious  interest  awakened  among  the 
young)  especially  among  the  children  of  the  church. 
Many  young  men  have  become  hopefully  subjects 
of  divine  grace,  and  give  promise  of  much  present 
and  future  usefulness. 


Union  Church,  Essex  Street. 

This  church  was  originally  gathered  by  Rev. 
James  Sabine,  and  the  house  dedicated  in  1819. 
A  difficulty  arose  between  some  members  of  the 
church  and  their  pastor,  and  a  majority  of  the 
church  and  the  pastor  left  the  house.  After  this, 
the  minority  of  the  church  was  organized,  June  10, 
1822.  It  then  consisted  only  of  twelve  members. 
This  infant  church  made  application  to  the  Old 
South  and  Park  Street  Churches  for  assistance. 
"Several  members,  after  very  serious  deliberation, 
consented  to  a  separation  from  iheir  beloved  pas- 
tors and  brethren,  and  were  united  with  the  church 
on  the  the  26th  of  August,  1822;  on  which  occasion, 
to  mark  the  transaction,  and  for  the  })urpose  of  a  dis- 
tinct designation,  the  name  of  Union  Church  was 
adopted.  At  the  same  time,  Deacon  Nathan  Parker, 
by  whose  pecuniary  aid,  chiefly,  the  meeting-house 
in  Essex  Street  had  been  erected,  conveyed  by 
deed  the  house,  and  land  upon  which  it  was  built, 
to  a  Board  of  Trustees,  for  the  use  of  the  Union 
Church  ;  to  be  occupied  for  the  worship  of  God  the 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost. 

On  the  12th  of  November  1822,  the  church  unan- 


36  BOSTON-    REVIVAL, 

imously  made  choice  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Green,  of 
Reading,  to  become  their  pastor;  who  signified  his 
acceptance,  by  letter  Feb.  8th,  1823,  and  was  in-^ 
stalled  March  26th.  During  the  years  1823,  and  '24, 
the  Evangelical  Congregational  Churches  in  this 
city  were  favored  with  the  special  effusions  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  in  which  this  church  participated* 
During  those  two  years  between  80  and  90  were  ad- 
mitted to  the  church.  In  the  vear  1827  and  '28* 
this  church  was  again  visited  with  the  reviving  in- 
fluences of  the  Holy  S{)irit.  As  the  fruits  of  this 
season  of  revival,  118  were  gathered  into  the 
church. 

This  church  was  among  the  earliest  that  acted 
officially  upon  the  subject  of  temperance.  The 
church  unanimously  resolved,  on  the  28th  of  March, 
1827,  "that  we  will  not  use  ardent  spirit  ourselves, 
nor  permit  its  use  in  our  families,  except  for  medi- 
cal purposes." 

By  vote  of  the  church,  one-third  of  the  collec- 
tions at  the  communion  seasons  is  appropriated  to 
constitute  a  fund  for  the  support  of  such  families 
of  the  pastors  of  this  church  as  may  need  charita- 
ble assistance ;  and  the  other  two-thirds,  for  the  use 
of  the  poor  of  the  church.  Since  this  church  was 
organized,  940  have  been  admitted  to  its  commu- 
nion. Its  present  number  is  572.  Since  the  com- 
mencement of  the  year  1842,  52  persons  have  been 
received. 

In  the  revival  ofthe  present  year,  this  church  has 
not  shared  so  largely  as  some  others;  but  still  she 


CONGREGAtiONAL    CHURCHES.  37 

has  not  been  left  unblessed.  As  far  back  as  last 
autumn  sonle  of  her  members  were  revived,  and 
felt  in  an  unusual  degree  the  spirit  of  prayer.  They 
cried  continually  for  God  to  revive  his  work.  Thife 
•try  entered  into  the  ears  of  the  Lord  of  Sabbaoth, 
and  he  heard  their  cry.  God  sent  down  gracious  an- 
swers from  his  throne.  Individual  cases  of  con- 
viction and  conversion  soon  began  to  appear.  The 
work  was  not  so  extensive  as  the  praying  people,  at 
times,  hoped  that  it  would  be;  but  still  this  church 
has  real  cause  for  gratitude  for  the  conversion  of 
50  souls.  Those  that  have  professed  religion  thus 
far  appear  well.  They  have  not  been  hastily  re-^ 
ceived.  In  most  cases,  some  time  has  been  per- 
mitted to  elapse  between  the  hopeful  conversion  of 
individuals  and  their  reception  into  the  communion 
of  the  church. 

The  instrumentalities  used  in  carrying  on  the 
work,  were  the  stated  labors  of  the  pastor  and  the 
prayers  and  personal  efforts  of  the  brethren.  This 
church  felt  to  some  extent  her  responsibility.  She 
did  not  feel  as  though  the  whole  work  of  convert- 
ing souls  rested  upon  the  shoulders  of  her  pastor. 
He  must  indeed  have  his  a[)propriate  work,  as  the 
leader  of  the  "sacramental  host  of  God's  elect." 
But  he  could  not  do  his  own  work  and  theirs  too. 
Many  of  the  members  of  the  church  by  their 
prayers  and  efforts  sustained  the  hands  of  the\t 
])astor.  Had  there  been  more  prayer  and  greater" 
efforts,  this  church  would  undoubtedly  have  seen 
more  of  the  work  of  the  Lord  tlj^an  they  did.  May 
3 


38  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

Ihe  Lord  speedily  revive  them  again,  and  lead 
them  to  consecrate  themselves  renewedly  to  his 
service. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Green  street  Church — Philips's  Church,  South  Boston — Bow- 
doiii  street  ('hurch — Salem  Church — Pine  street  Church- 
Maverick  Church,  East  Boston. 

Green  Street  Church. 

Rev.  Wm.  Jenks,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  this  church, 
commenced  his  labors  among  seamen  and  among 
the  poor  in  1818.  Meetings  were  held  at  a  hall 
over  the  stores  on  Central  wharf,  and  in  a  mission 
house,  erected  on  Butolph  street.  Dr.  Jenks 
preached  halfof  the  Sabbath  in  each  of  these  places. 
The  church  in  Green  street  grew  out  of  his  mis- 
sionary labors.  The  church  was  gathered  Dec.  30, 
1823.  At  its  organization,  it  consisted  of  18  mem- 
bers. Nearly  400  persons  have  been  received  since 
that  time.  The  most  that  have  ever  been  admitted 
in  one  year  was  in  1827,  which  was  99.  The  meel- 
ing-house  was  erected  in   1826. 

In  a  letter  to  the  writer  of  this  work,  the  pastor 
gives  the  following  account  of  the  revival  of  the 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCHES.  39 

present  year:  "In  reply  to  your  inquiries  respecting 
the  recent  work  of  grace  in  our  religious  society,  I 
feel  it  necessary  to  look  back  to  a  previous  period. 
For  there  had  been,  as  you  are  doubtless  aware,  an 
unusual  attention  to  religion  in  the  preceding  year, 
manifesting  itself  in  several  of  our  churches.  This 
had  led  to  the  institution  of  the  morning  meeting 
for  prayer  at  Park  street  vestry — a  meeting  that 
called  forth  much  of  the  spirit  of  piety,  and  of  ar- 
dent desire  for  the  salvation  of  souls.  Several 
members  of  our  church  and  society  frequented  these 
meetings,  and  appeared  to  derive  from  them  a  great 
benefit.  The  spirit  of  prayer,  too,  was  perceptible 
in  our  own  vestry,  and  its  increase  was  apparent  in 
1840.  Such,  indeed,  had  been  the  power  of  divine 
grace  in  a  few  conversions  of  that  year,  that  the 
memory  of  them  was  exceedingly  felt,  and  excited 
no  little  engagedness  in  the  minds  of  the  brethren. 
The  preaching  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kirk  in  Park  street, 
which  was  attended  by  a  large  number  of  people, 
seemed  at  least  to  give  vigor  to  the  attention  to 
which  I  now  allude,  and  to  add  to  it  solemnity  and 
interest.  Twenty-two  were  admitted  to  our  com- 
munion during  that  year.  Towards  the  close  of  1841, 
very  decided  cases  of  serious  inquiry  were  apparent. 
Many  attended  the  preaching  of  Rev.  Mr.  Knapp, 
and  listened  with  increasing  seriousness  to  his 
warm  and  energetic  appeals,  and  stirring  represen- 
tations. A  young  couple  resolved  on  the  first  day 
of  the  year,  that  they  would  seek  in  earnest  an  in- 
terest in  the  great  salvation.     Not  long  after,  I  trust. 


40  ^  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

it  was  found.  Our  meetings  became  more  and 
more  deeply  solemn,  until,  at  length,  when  the 
number  who  professed  to  have  found  the  peace  of 
the  gospel,  had  amounted  to  about  40,  as  I  judge, 
the  church  voted  to  invite  Rev.  Mr.  Knapp  to  come 
and  hold  a  series  of  meetings  with  us.  He  came 
and  labored  with  us  one  week.  During  a  part  of 
the  following  week,  Rev.  Mr.  Kirk,  whom,  author- 
ized by  a  vote  of  the  church,  I  had  previously  in- 
vited, labored  with  us,  until  the  meetings  were  re- 
moved to  the  meeting-house  in  Bowdoin  street,  and 
continued  there  for  a  considerable  time.  From  the 
time  of  commencing  the  series  of  meetings  to  their 
close,  out  of  the  number  of  apparent  conversions, 
which  I  have  no  means  of  specifying,  ten  have  been 
reckoned  of  such  as  have  usually  worshipped  with 
us.  Hence  it  has  been  judged  that  the  number  of 
instances,  which  in  the  judgment  of  charity,  may 
be  accounted  conversions,  in  persons  attached  to 
Green  street  society,  was  about  50.  41  have  sinccj 
at  different  times,  been  added  to  our  communion. 
Eight  or  ten  beside  these  have  expressed  religious 
hopes.  In  one  family  five,  in  another  six,  and  in 
another  four  instances  of  happy  renewal  of  heart 
was  rejoiced  in.  Husbands  and  wives,  parents  and 
children,  found  a  new  satisfaction  in  the  ties  that 
united  them,  and  could  bend  the  knee  together  be- 
fore the  throne  of  grace.  The  subjects  of  the  work 
were  of  various  ages,  and  thus  far,  no  instance  has 
occurred  in  which  church  censure  has  appeared 
necessary."  Present  number  of  church  members 
256. 


congrega-tionali  churches.  41 

Philips's  Church,  South  Boston. 

This  church  was  organized  in  J823.  Rev.  Prince 
Havves  was  its  first  pastor.  Rev.  J.  H.  Fairchild 
was  installed  in  1827.  During  Iiis  ministry,  there 
have  been  several  seasons  of  special  interest.  His 
health  began  to  fail  last  autumn  ;  from  Oct.  to  May 
he  was  unable  to  preacii  more  than  half  of  the  day. 
"The  state  of  religion,"  says  a  member  of  that 
church,  "  was  at  alow  ebb,  till  about  the  first  of 
February,  when  some  tokens  of  the  presence  of  the 
Spirit  of  God  began  to  appear.  Some  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church  had  attended  in  the  city,  and  had 
their  hearts  warmed  by  seeing  and  hearing  what 
the  Lord  was  there  doing.  The  prayer-meetings 
held  on  Sabbath  and  Friday  evenings,  became 
places  of  deep  and  solemn  interest;  the  brethren 
began  to  find  liberty  to  speak  of  their  coldness  and 
backslidings ;  to  mourn  over  the  state  of  their  own 
hearts,  and  that  of  their  impenitent  friends;  and 
were  ready  to  pour  out  their  feelings  in  fervent 
prayer  for  the  quickening  and  converting  influences 
of  God's  spirit.  As  soon  as  God's  children  began 
earnestly  to  plead  for  impenitent  sinners,  they  be- 
gan to  attend  on  religious  meetings,  and  to  exhibit 
anxiety  for  their  own  salvation.  The  number  of  re- 
ligious meetings  was  increased,  and  occasionally 
the  voice  of  new  converts  was  heard  in  them, 
praising  the  Lord  for  what  he  had  done  for  their 
souls,  and  exhorting  their  impenitent  friends  to  flee 
to  Christ  for  salvation.  About  35  have  connected 
3* 


42  BOSTON    REVIVAIi. 

themselves  with  this  church  by  profession  ;  30  of 
these  on  the  first  Sabbath  in  May,  on  which  day  the 
labors  of  our  late  beloved  pastor  closed.  Among 
these  were  eleven  male  heads  of  families.  The  in- 
teresting relations  given  by  new  converts,  show 
that  while  God  makes  use  of  various  means  to  fas- 
ten divine  truth  upon  the  soul,  the  great  leading 
results  are  the  same.  These  results  are  a  change  of 
feeling  towards  God,  Christians,  the  bible,  the  Sab- 
bath, and  religious  meetings.  The  young  converts 
were  filled  with  adoring  wonder  and  gratitude. 

"A  young  man  who  joined  the  church  in  March, 
was  awakened  by  the  reading  of  a  letter  from  a 
former  companion,  which  gave  an  account  of  his 
conversion.  He  rose  in  one  of  our  meetings,  and 
after  stating  in  a  few  words  what  God  had  done  for 
his  soul,  requested  prayers  for  his  impenitent  pa- 
rents. At  the  next  communion  in  May,  both  of 
them  were  found  sitting  with  their  son  at  the  same 
table  of  the  Lord.  A  man  who  had  formerly'  been 
a  Universalist,  and  who  had  for  a  long  time  resisted 
the  claims  of  religion,  as  presented  by  a  pious  and 
praying  wife,  was  brought  to  repentance  by  her 
death.  His  appeals  made  in  our  religious  meetings 
to  others  who  had  pious  companions,  were  instru- 
mental, we  believe,  of  good  to  several  souls.  The 
reviving  of  t!ie  graces  of  those  who  have  been  a 
long  time  professors,  was  not  among  the  least  im- 
portant of  facts  of  the  special  visitation  of  the  Spirit 
of  God. 

"  There  are  others,  who,  in  the  judgment  of  char- 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCHES,  43 

ity,  have  passed  from  death  unto  life,  that  have  not 
yet  united  themselves  with  the  visible  church.  In 
answer  to  the  question,  *  Has  the  revival  ceased?' 
it  is  answered, 'it  has.'  'What  were  the  apparent 
causes?'  Amon^  these  mav  be  named  the  want  of 
a  pastor,  the  occurrence  of  the  season  of  the  year 
when  our  church  members  have  less  energy  and 
time  for  religious  meetings  for  prayer  and  for  re- 
ligious conference,  and  above  all,  the  want  of  watch- 
fulness, faith  and  prayer.  The  great  adversary  of 
souls  seemed  for  a  time  to  draw  off  from  his  open 
attacks,  while  the  Spirit  of  God  was  present.  We 
have  occasion  to  bless  God  for  what  he  has  done. 
Good  fruit,  fruit  of  the  Spirit  remains;  and  while 
we  have  reason  to  fear  that  some,  who  were 
aroused  to  more  than  ordinary  faithfulness,  have 
returned  to  their  ease  in  Zion,  others  are  resolved 
in  the  strength  of  the  Lord,  by  patient  continuance 
in  well  doing,  to  '  seek  for  glory,  honor,  and  eter- 
nal life.'" 

The  number  of  chin'ch  members  at  the  time  of 
Mr.  Faircliild's  installation,  was  37.  He  received 
358  during  his  fifteen  years'  ministry;  its  present 
number  is  251. 


BowDoiN  Street  Church. 

This  church  was  gathered  and  house  erected  in 
Hanover  street.  The  church  was  organized  July 
18,  J 825.  The  corner  stone  of  the  meeting-house 
was  laid  June  20,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Wisner,  and  an  ad- 


44  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

dress  delivered  by  Rev.  S.  Green.  On  tlie  19th  of 
Jan.  1826,  Rev.  Lyman  Beecher,  D.  D.,  was  in- 
stalled pastor.  This  house  was  destroyed  by  fire 
Feb.  1,  1830.  The  new  house  was  erected  in  Bovv- 
doin  street,  and  the  name  of  the  church  was  changed 
from  Hanover  to  Bowdoin  street  church.  Dr. 
Beecher  was  dismissed  Sept.  183"2.  The  present 
pastor  at  the  close  of  his  tenth  years'  ministry,  gave 
a  brief  history  of  this  church,  from  which  some  ex- 
tracts are  permitted  to  be  taken. 

"The  statistics  of  this  church  show,"  the  pastor 
says,  "a  remarkable  uniformity  of  growth  down  to 
this  present  moment.  During  the  six  and  a  half 
years  of  Dr.  Beecher's  ministry,  the  church  received 
485  members,  330  by  profession,  and  155  by  letter, 
making  an  average  of  70  per  year,  two  thirds  of 
whom  were  received  by  profession.  During  the 
ten  years'  ministry  of  his  successor,  the  church  has 
received  700  members,  averaging  just  70  a  year,  and 
just  two  thirds  of  them  also  by  profession.  It  hence 
appears,  that  the  average  number  received  into  the 
church  annually  under  the  first,  and  under  the  sec- 
ond ministers,  and  the  proportion  received  by  pro- 
fession, are  about  the  same.  The  reception  under 
the  present  minister  has  been  more  uniform  than 
under  the  preceding.  Under  the  ministry  of  Dr. 
Beecher,  in  the  general  and  extensive  revival  of '27, 
there  were  received  into  the  church  187  members, 
most  of  them  by  profession,  and  at  the  communion 
seasons.  During  the  two  or  three  following  years, 
the  number  received  was  not  one  third  as  great, 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCHES.  45 

%k\'dX  in  1829  being  only  38  in  all,  19  on  profession. 
Whereas  the  greatest  number  received    in  any  one 
3'«ar  under  the  present  pastor  is  160,  and  the  least 
43.     The  year  of  greatest  accessions  to  the  church 
under  the  former  pastor  was  1827,  under  the  present, 
1836;  the  least  ^under  the  former  pastor   that   of 
1829,  under  the  present,  that  of  1839.     That  the  ac- 
cessions to  the  church  under  the  present  ministry 
have  not  residted  from  extraordinary  means  and 
measures  within,  or  excitements  around   it,  is  evi- 
dent not  only  from  the  great  uniformity,  year  to 
year ;  but  from  the  fact  that  the  greatest  revival,  or 
the  most  numerous  additions  were  in  1836,  when 
there  was  a  general  sCupidity  in  most  of  the  sur- 
rounding churches,  and  when  this  church  and  pas- 
tor did  their  own  work  in  their  own  plain,  unex- 
citing, uniform  way.     Through  that  whole  year  no 
foreign  help  was  called  in,  and  the  pastor  very  sel- 
dom exchanged  pulpits;  but  followed  up  from  Sab- 
bath to  Sabbath  a  consecutive  course  of  subjects, 
with  direct  reference  to  the  exigencies  of  his  peo- 
ple   and   the  conversion  of  souls.     The   Tuesday 
evening  meeting  was  a  continuous  course  of  doc- 
trinal lectures — the  Sabbath  evening,  a  season  of 
prayer,  remarks,  addresses,  and  conversations  with 
Inquirers— the  Friday  evening,  a  season  of  prayer. 
All  these  meetings  were  fully  attended.     Besides 
these  were    no  others,  excepting  occasional  little 
circles  in  private   families,  and  social  religious  in- 
terviews at  the   pastor's  house.     There   was  very 
Sittle  excitement ;  but  strojig   grapplings   of  truth 


46  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

with  the  understandings  and  consciences  of  men, 
and  the  snbduinggrace  of  tiie  Spirit  on  their  hearts. 
In  purity  and  depth,  in  freedom  from  any  thing  ob- 
jectionable in  the  character  of  the  persons  received, 
or  in  the  permanent  influence  on  this  church,  and 
the  cause  of  Christ  in  this  city  add  in  the  commu- 
nity at  large,  the  work  of  183G  has  seldom  been 
equalled. 

"It  is  a  very  remarkable  fact,  for  which  the  most 
devout  gratitude  is  due,  that  out  of  700  members  re- 
ceived during  the  period  of  ten  years,  only  three  in- 
stances of  discipline  have  as  yet  occurred.  This 
must  be  ascribed,  under  God,  not  more  to  the  free- 
dom of  the  work  of  grace  among  us  from  blind  and 
fanatical  impulses,  than  to  the  great  prudence  and 
care  of  our  committee. 

"This  church  is  now  17  years  old,  and  numbers 
1222  children.  Of  these  65  have  died  ;  17  have  for- 
feited church  confidence ;  more  than  500  have  gone 
out  to  strengthen  and  build  other  churches.  Of  the 
great  numbers  that  have  gone  out  from  this  church, 
have  been  many  of  its  most  active  and  important 
members,  including  all  its  original  and  part  of  its 
more  subsequent  officers.  The  churches  planted  and 
strengthened  by  colonies  from  this  church,  are  Sa- 
lem and  Pine  street  churches.  The  Central  church, 
in  Winter  street,  was  organized  in  this  house,  and 
mostly  a  colony  from  this  church — the  Eliot  in 
lloxbury — the  Winthrop  church  in  Charlestown — 
the  evangelical  church  in  Cambridgeport — the  Mar- 
iner's church — the  Free  church — the  church  in  East 


CONGREG  A.TIONAL    CHURCHES.  47 

Boston — tlie  church  in  Chelsea,  and  the  recent 
church  formed  for  Mr,  Kirk.  All  of  which  have 
received,  by  far,  more  members  and  strength  from 
this  church  than  any  other.  Many  have,  moreover, 
gone  from  this  to  numerous  churches  near  and  re- 
mote, in  various  parts  of  our  country,  and  some  to 
the  heathen  nations.  The  benign  influence  of  this 
church  has  been  felt  not  only  in  this  city,  and  vi- 
cinity, but  on  those  at  a  distance,  and  on  the  great 
and  general  cause  of  Zion  at  large.  The  average 
number  received  into  this  church,  and  sent  out 
from  it  during  the  17  years  of  her  existence,  far 
surpass  those  of  any  other  church  in  thecity  during 
the  same,  or  proportionate  period  ;  and  the  annual 
reception  of  70  members  from  year  to  year  for  17 
years,  is  without  a  parrallel  in  the  New  England 
churches  of  our  denomination.  These  remarks  are 
made,  especially  those  in  reference  to  the  church 
nnder  the  present  ministry,  not  in  the  spirit  of 
boasting,  but  to  honor  the  established  ordinances, 
and  magnify  the  grace  of  God. 

"The  instrumentalities  have  been  the  stated 
preaching  of  the  gospel,  with  the  devotional  exer- 
cises of  prayer  and  singing,  by  which  the  general 
influence  of  divine  truth  has  been  kept  upon  the 
minds  of  the  congregation — the  instructions  of  the 
Sabbath  school  and  Bible  classes — and  meetings  of 
prayer  and  remarks,  which  have  often  been  much 
favored — social  and  personal  religious  interviews — 
all  these  means  united  to  carry  forward  the  work. 
These  we  believe  are  the  divinely  appointed  means 
for  building  up  the  kingdom  of  God." 


4S  Boston  revival.. 

This  review  of  ten  years'  ministry,  shows  wfial 
may  be  done  by  a  church  in  its  organized  capaci- 
ty, that  keeps  constantly  at  work  for  God.  They 
have  used  those  instrumentalities  that  God  has  ap- 
pointed. He  has  given  them  almost  an  uninter- 
rupted revival  of  religion  of  17  year's  duration. 

During  the  present  year  135  have  been  admitted 
to  the  church. 

The  revival  commenced  in  this  church  in  Dec^ 
1841.  It  first  appeared  by  individuals  of  the  church 
humbling  themselves  before  God  for  their  past  sins 
In  many  instances,  there  were  great  searchings  of 
heart,  and  renewed  self-consecrations  to  Christ, 
Meetings  were  held  in  the  vestry  from  evening  la 
evening.  Through  several  successive  weeks,  a 
united  inquiry  meeting  for  Park,  Green  and  Bowdoin 
street  churches  were  held  at  the  vestry,  on  three  af- 
ternoons in  the  week.  The  work  in  this  congre- 
gation was  one  6f  great  interest  and  power.  Hub- 
bard Winslow,  Pastor. 

Salem  Church. 

The  Lord  having  succeeded  every  attempt  to  en- 
large his  kingdom,  a  meeting  was  held  March  21sty 
1827,  to  consider  whether  it  was  not  expedient  to 
erect  another  house  of  worship.  It  being  doubtful 
whether  it  was  njost  needed  at  the  north,  or  the. 
south  part  of  the  city,  it  was  resolved  to  erect  two, 
one  on  Pine  street,  and  the  other  on  Salem  street. 
The  corner  stone  of  Salem  church  was  laid,  July 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCHES-  49 

17,  18*27.  Ninety-seven  persons  were  organized 
into  a  church  Sept.  1, 1827.  Rev.  Justin  Edwards, 
D.  D.,  was  installed  pastor,  Jan.  1,  1828;  dismissed 
Aug.  20,  1829.  Rev.  George  W.  Blagden  was  in- 
stalled, Nov.  3,  1830;  dismissed  Aug.  1836.  Rev. 
Joseph  H.  Towne,  the  present  pastor,  was  installed 
June  2,  1837. 

An  officer  of  the  church  has  given  the  following 
account  of  the  revival  of  the  past  winter  and 
spring : 

"During  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  and  most 
of  the  autumn  of  1841,  the  state  of  our  church  and 
society  was  such  as  to  cause  a  depression  of  feel- 
,  ing  in  the  lieart  of  Zion's  friends.  Our  pastor  re- 
turned to  us  early  in  September,  after  an  absence  of 
six  weeks.  An  attempt  was  made  to  resuscitate 
the  Tuesday  evening  lecture,  but  the  attendance 
was  so  very  small,  that  after  a  few  weeks'  experi- 
ment, it  was  thought  best  to  give  it  up.  Our  week- 
ly church  meeting  was  continued,  but  many  seats 
were  vacant,  and  it  became  a  matter  of  deep  so- 
licitude what  should  be  done.  At  length,  at  a 
business  meeting  in  Dec,  a  brother  was  appointed 
to  prepare  a  circular  to  be  printed,  and  delivered  to 
each  individual  member  of  the  church,  calling  upon 
them  to  consider  their  covenant  obligations,  and 
awake  to  duty.  This  circular  was  prepared  in 
manuscript,  and  presented  to  the  church ;  but  the 
Lord  had  rendered  its  distribution  unnecessary. 
Previous  to  its  presentation  to  the  church,  things 
began  to  assume  a  new  aspect.  The  discussion  of 
4 


50  BOSTON    REVIVAL 

the  subject  had  awakened  an  interest,  find  our 
meetings  began  to  increase  in  numbers,  if  not  in 
deep  religious  feeling.  At  a  meeting  for  devotion- 
al exercises,  Dec.  24,  the  third  chapter  of  Malachi 
was  made  the  theme  of  discussion.  It  excited 
much  interest,  and  we  felt  that  there  was  an  un-, 
usual  spirit  of  prayer  for  the  outpouring  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  At  another  meeting  the  subject  of 
foreign  missions  was  taken  up,  and  most  of  the 
brethren  present  subscribed  50  or  100  per  cent 
more  than  in  former  years.  This  seemed  to  be  the 
beginning  of  the  revival ;  we  hailed  the  spirit  of 
the  meeting  as  a  token  for  good.  We  had  brought 
'  tithes  into  the  store  house,  and  the  offering  was 
pleasant  to  the  Lord,  as  in  the  days  of  old ;'  and  we 
l)egan  to  anticipate  that  he  would  pour  us  out  a 
blessing,  corresponding  with  the  interest  he  had  ex- 
cited in  the  hearts  of  his  people  for  the  cause  of 
Zion.  The  next  Sabbath  was  the  first  in  the  year, 
and  communion  day.  Our  pastor  preached  in  the 
morning  from  II.  Kings  20,  J,  last  clause.  It  was 
a  solemn,  melting  sermon,  and  deeply  felt.  The 
Lord  had  prepared  the  way  for  this  sermon  ;  one 
young  couple  had  the  very  evening  previous  taken 
up  the  same  subject  in  conversation  with  each 
other — lamented  their  irreligious  life,  arHl  resolved 
to  commence  the  new  year  by  leading  new  lives. 
They  went  to  the  sanctuary  next  morning  with 
subdued  feeling  and  tender  consciences.  The  word 
was  made  i)ovverful ;  they  were  deeply  convicted  of 
sin,  and  soon  drawn  to  the  Saviour.     On  this  Sab- 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCHES.  51 

bath,  it  was  ascertained  that  a  young  man  who  had 
been   several  days   in  an   anxious   state,   had   ob- 
tained a  hope.     In  the  evening  our  vestry  was  full. 
It  was  evident  that  the  Holy  Spirit  was  there.     The 
pastor  at  the  close  inquired  of  those  present,  if  they 
would  sustain  the  Tuesday  evening  lecture  if  it 
should  again  be  resumed.    The  assembly  signified 
their  assent  by  rising.     Tuesday  evening  came,  and 
it  was  a  precious  season.     After  sermon,  an  invita- 
tion was  given  to  such  as  felt  the  need  of  special 
prayer  to  remain.    About  20  came  up  to  the  desk, 
and  with  them  one  who  had  for  years  been  sus- 
pended from  the  fellowship  of  the  church.     There 
was  a  very  deep  feeling.    The  Lord  had  come  sud- 
denly into  his  temple,  and  it  was  evident  that  many 
had  been  brought  under  deep   conviction  of  sin. 
From  this  time  it  became  necessary   to   increase 
meetings,  and  for  four  months  a  meeting  was  held 
every  evening  in  the  week.    The  blessing  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  descended  upon  us  mostly  through  the 
regular  means  of  grace.    These  were  the  instru- 
ments by  which  he  chose  to  accomplish  his  de- 
signs, both  in  the  commencement  and  progress  of 
the  work.    Rev.  Edward  Beecher  was  providential- 
ly with  us  two  or  three  weeks  during  the  most  in- 
teresting part  of  the  revival,  and  rendered  much  as- 
sistance to  our  pastor  under  his  accumulated  labori*. 
On  examination  of  candidates  for  admission  into 
the  church,  even  in  the  season  of  coldness  before 
alluded  to,  some  had  been  brought  to  feel  their  need 
of  a  Saviour;  and  while  the  church  was  apparently 


52  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

asleep,  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  had  not  en- 
tirely ceased.  As  the  fruits  of  the  revival,  133  have 
been  added  to  the  church.  We  trust  that  there  are 
still  many  others  who  have  been  more  or  less  af- 
fected by  the  influence  of  the  Spirit  on  their  hearts. 
How  many  of  them  have  passed  from  death  unto 
life,  time  must  determine.  Several  very  young 
persons  have  expressed  hopes,  but  their  cases  have 
been  deferred  on  account  of  their  youth.  In  gen- 
eral, there  was  little  to  be  noticed  in  this  revival 
which  does  not  apply  to  those  in  other  places,  ex- 
cept that  it  was  somewhat  sudden  in  its  commence- 
ment, and  rapid  in  its  progress.  One  of  the  early 
converts  considered  his  conversion  as  the  direct  re- 
sult of  the  prayers  of  a  circle  of  wives,  (of  which  his 
own  wife  was  one)  who  united  together  to  pray  es- 
pecially for  their  impenitent  husbands.  Thirty 
husbands  and  wives  professed  religion  on  the  first 
Sabbath  in  May.  The  revival  has  partially  sub- 
sided. The  cause  of  4:he  withdrawing  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  is  the  diminished  interest  of  the  people  of 
God,  perhaps  in  the  presumption  in  supposing  that 
the  work  would  go  on,  whether  prayers  and  efibrts 
were  continued  or  not.  We  still  hope,  however, 
that  the  church  does  feel  much  interest  in  the 
cause  of  Christ  among  us.  Our  meetings  have 
been  better  attended  this  summer  than  thev  were 
ever  before  in  the  warm  season,  and  I  trust  tliat  we 
shall  be  further  visited  with  the  outpouring  of  God's 
Spirit.  It  was  remarked  during  the  latter  part  of 
the  revival,  that  nearly  all  who  had  habitually  at- 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCHES.  53 

tended  the  vestry  meetings  were  brought  in.  A 
considerable  class  of  those  who  are  with  us  on  the 
Sabbath,  but  are  never  with  us  in  the  vestry,  have 
remained  unaffected.  This  class  are  not  easily  ap- 
proached. The  church  are  arranging  a  system  of 
visiting,  which  it  is  hoped  will  reach  them." 
Present  number  of  the  church,  577. 

Pine  Street  Church. 

The  corner-stone  of  this  meeting-house  was  laid 
June  20,  1827.  The  church  was  gathered  Sept.  2, 
1827,  consisting  of  45  members.  Rev.  Thomas  A. 
Skinner,  D.  D.,  was  installed  April  10,  1828,  dis- 
missed, Aug,  27,  1828.  John  Brown,  D.  D.,  was  in- 
stalled March  4,  1829,  dismissed  Feb.  1831.  Rev. 
A.  A.  Phelps  was  installed  Sept.  1832,  dismissed 
March,  1834.  Rev.  Artemas  Boies  was  installed, 
Dec.  1834,  dismissed  Oct.  1840.  Rev.  Austin 
Phelps,  present  pastor,  was  ordained  March,  31, 
1842.  Says  a  member  of  this  chui'ch,  "As  far 
back  as  the  month  of  Dec.  there  were  indications 
of  more  than  usual  seriousness  on  the  part  of  the 
church,  although  there  was  nothing  of  a  very  de- 
cided character  so  early  as  that.  The  deep  religious 
interest  that  was  felt  at  the  north  part  of  the  city, 
seemed  to  react  upon  us  at  the  south,  and  many 
members  of  our  church  -seemed  to  have  imparted 
to  them  new  vigor  and  new  life  in  their  spiritual 
feelings  by  attendance  upon  the  meetings  in  the 
churches  where  the  revival  had  already  com- 
4* 


54  '    BOSTOW    REVIVALr 

raenced.  About  this  time  a  powerful  work  of 
grace  was  in  progress  at  the  Methodist  Church  in 
Church  street.  The  meetings  held  there  were  also 
attended  by  many  members  of  our  church,  and  the 
accounts  that  reached  us,  from  day  to  day  and  from 
week  to  week,  of  what  God  was  doing  there  in  the 
conversion  of  sinners,  tended  much  to  deepen  re- 
ligious feeling  generally,  and  lead  us  to  feel  that  if 
we  would  share  the  blessing  which  God  was  pour- 
ing out  all  around  us,  we  were  called  upon  to  hum- 
ble ourselves  before  him.  Perhaps  the  first  decided 
indications  of  a  revival  of  religion,  were  mani- 
fested early  in  the  month  of  January  in  the  young 
men's  prayer  meeting.  This  meeting  had  been 
held  for  some  years  in  a  private  house,  and  the 
average  attendance  was  not  more  than  from  8  to  12. 
Without  any  unusual  effort  being  made,  the  num- 
ber was  increased  to  25.  It  became  a  meeting  of 
much  solemnity.  The  numbers  attending  this  meet- 
ing continued  to  increase,  so  that  the  rooms  where 
they  were  accustomad  to  meet,  were  too  strait  for 
them,  and  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  vestry. 
It  has  been  continued  until  the  present  time,  is  well 
attended,  and  open  for  all  who  may  wish  to  come. 
It  is  conducted  by  the  young  men,  and  has,  we  have 
reason  to  believe,  been  productive  of  much  good. 
In  the  month  of  January  our  house  was  closed 
for  repairs,  and  was  not  opened  again  until  April ; 
our  only  place  of  meeting  was  the  vestry,  and  our 
congregation  was  very  much  scattered  ;  the  church 
>V'as  also  destitute  of  a  pastor.    Under  these  cir- 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCHES.  55 

cumstances,  it  seemed  almost  hopeless  to  expect  a 
revival.  Laboring  under  these  discouragements, 
the  hand  of  God  was  the  more  strikingly  manifest. 
Under  the  labors  of  Rev.  G.  D.  Abbott,  who  preached 
with  us  two  or  three  months,  the  religious  interest 
increased.  Meetings  were  held  every  evening  in 
the  week,  with  the  exception  of  Saturday,  for  sev- 
eral weeks.  At  the  close  of  the  meetings,  anxious 
persons  were  invited  to  remain  for  conversation. 
The  first  time  the  invitation  was  given,  only  one 
stopped  ;  at  the  second  three,  at  the  third  six.  The 
number  of  inquirers  increased  to  75  or  100.  A  day 
of  fasting  and  prayer  was  observed,  which  tended 
to  humble  christians  before  God,  and  lead  ns  to 
feel  our  dependence  more  upon  the  Holy  Spirit. 
The  season  of  the  deepest  interest  with  us  was 
from  the  middle  of  January  to  the  middle  of  March. 
The  number  of  those  that  have  indulged  hopes  in 
Christ,  is  about  75.  Many  of  the  converts  are 
young  men  and  women,  and  about  half  are  from 
the  Sabbath  school.  On  the  first  Sabbath  in  July, 
forty  were  admitted  to  the  church.  The  Holy 
Spirit  is  now  partially  withdrawn  from  us.  This 
must  be  attributed  to  the  relaxing  of  prayer  and 
personal  efforts. 

Present  number  of  church  members,  278. 

Maverick  Chttrch,  East  Boston. 

The  Maverick  church  was  instituted  May  31, 
1836.  Early  in  this  year,  several  persons  were  im- 
pressed with  the  importance  of  having  the  preached 


56  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

gospel  established  in  this  place.  A  meeting  was 
held  to  consult  on  the  subject,  which  was  attended 
by  only  four  persons.  A  vestry  was  built  by  these 
four  individuals.  The  congregation  consisted  only 
of  about  30  persons.  The  meeting-house  was  ded- 
icated July  19,  1837,  and  Rev.  William  W.  Newell 
was  installed  pastor.  Mr.  Newell  was  dismissed  in 
1841.  Rev.  A.  A.  Phelps  is  the  present  pastor.  He 
devotes  part  of  the  time  to  city  missions.  A  revival 
•commenced  in  this  congregation  in  March.  About 
twenty  have  expressed  hopes,  a  part  of  whom  have 
professed  religion.  The  present  prospects  of  this 
church  are  better  than  they  have  ever  been  at  any 
former  period  of  its  history.  The  church  numbers 
-about  80  members. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Mariners'  Church — Central  Church — Marlboro'  Chapel — Gar- 
den street  Church — New  Congregational  Church — Conclu- 
ding remarks — Statistical  table. 


"O 


Mariners'  Church. 

In  1818,  Rev.  Dr.  Jenks  commenced  his  labors 
among  seamen,  under  the  patronage  of  the  "Boston 
Society  fqr  the  Religious  and  3Ioral  Instruction  of 
the  Poor."  He  preached  half  of  the  Sabbath  at  a 
hall  over  the  arch   on  Central  wharf.    lie  contin- 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCHES.  57 

ued  his  labors  until  1826.  In  1828,  the  Boston 
Seaman's  Friend  Society  was  formed.  On  Jan.  I, 
1830,  the  Mariners'  Church  was  dedicated,  and  on 
the  20th  of  the  same  month,  a  church  of  nine  mem- 
bers was  gathered.  Rev.  Stephen  Bailey  officiated 
as  seaman's  preacher  from  1826  to  1828 ;  Rev.  Jon- 
athan Greenleaf  from  1828  to  1833;  Rev.  D.  M. 
Lord  from  1834  to  the  present  time.  The  whole 
number  that  has  been  admitted  to  this  church,  is 
about  250.  This  church  has  shared  in  the  revival 
of  the  present  year.  Several  interesting  cases  of 
conversion  took  place  among  the  sons  of  the  ocean. 
About  30  have  been  admitted  to  the  church.  It  is 
difficult  to  tell  the  precise  number  of  conversions 
in  a  congregation  so  fluctuating  as  that  of  seamen. 
Impressions  are  often  made  that  result  in  conver- 
sion, when  the  individual  is  on  the  ocean  or  in  a 
foreign  port.  The  full  results  of  preaching  the 
gospel  to  seamen  will  never  be  known  until  the 
sea  shall  give  up  its  dead. 

The   present  "  Sailors'  Home"   is  far  too   small 
to  accommodate  all  who  wish  to  be  received  as  - 
boarders.     It  is  now  contemplated  to  erect  a  new, 
more  spacious  and  convenient  house  in  the  course 
of  the  next  season. 

The  present  number  of  church  members  is  173. 


Central  Church. 

The  congregation  now  worshipping  in  Central 
Church,  in  Winter  street,  was  originally  gathered 


58  *  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

with  a  view  to  occupy  the  Odeon,  which  for  a 
number  of  years  was  used  as  a  theatre.  Seve- 
ral members  of  the  Evangelical  Congregational 
Churches  in  the  cit)^,  made  arrangements  with  the 
Academy  of  Music,  (who  had  obtained  a  lease  of 
the  building)  to  occupy  it  as  a  place  of  worship 
on  the  Sabbath.  A  meeting  was  held  May  6th, 
1835,  at  which,  after  mature  deliberation,  it  was 
judged  to  be  expedient  to  form  a  new  church.  On 
the  11th  of  May,  an  ecclesiastical  council  con- 
'  vened  at  the  vestry  of  Bowdoin  street  meeting- 
house, and  organized  the  Franklin  street  Church, 
consisting  of  63  members.  Rev.  William  M. 
Rogers  was  installed  pastor,  Aug.  6,  1835. 

On  the  27th  of  May,  1841,  the  corner  stone  of  a 
church  in  Winter  street,  for  the  use  of  the  congre- 
gation worshipping  at  the  Odeon,  was  laid  with 
appropriate  religious  services.  The  Central  Con- 
gregational Society  was  organized  under  the  gen- 
eral statute  of  the  commonwealth,  on  the  7th  of 
December,  1841,  and  recognized  the  Franklin  street 
Church  as  associated  with  them  in  the  worship  of 
God.  On  the  24th  of  Dec.  the  Franklin  street 
Church  assumed  the  name  of  the  Central  Congre- 
gational Church,  and  on  the  31st  of  Dec.  1841,  the 
church  edifice,  erected  in  Winter  street,  was  dedi- 
cated to  the  worship  of  God. 

Before  the  church  left  the  Odeon,  a  deep  solici- 
tude was  felt  that  they  might  enter  the  new  house 
with  right  feelings.  They  wished  not  only  to  con- 
secrate the  house  to  the  worship  of  the  only  living 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCHES.  59 

and  true  God,  but  to  consecrate  themselves  and 
their  families  to  his  service.  They  ardently  de- 
sired that  the  glory  of  God  should  fill  the  house. 
There  is  reason  to  believe  that  God  had  accepted 
of  this  consecration,  even  before  they  had  entered 
the  house  that  they  had  builded  unto  the  Lord. 
The  commencement  of  the  revival  may  be  dated 
back  to  the  time  when  this  solicitude  to  enter  the 
new  house  with  a  right  state  of  feeling,  was  awa- 
kened. This  was  a  revival  in  the  hearts  of  the 
church.  God  prepared  their  hearts  to  enter  into 
his  house  with  thanksgiving  and  into  his  gates 
with  praise.  Soon  after  the  church  was  open,  the 
pastor  commenced  a  series  of  Sabbath  evening  lec- 
tures, on  the  subject  of  the  death  of  Christ.  These 
were  continued  six  or  seven  weeks,  and  then  a  se- 
ries of  evening  meetings  were  continued  through 
several  successive  weeks.  The  pastor  and  the 
church  performed  nearly  all  the  labor.  God  was 
pleased  to  bless  the  ordinary  means  of  grace. 
Many  thrilling  incidents  occurred  in  the  progress 
of  the  work.  They  were  such  as  glorified  Godj 
and  edified  his  people.  The  enterprise  of  erecting 
the  new  house  was  succeeded  beyond  their  most 
sanguine  expectation.  Pews  were  sold  for  sufii- 
cient  to  pay  for  the  house.  All  the  sittings  are 
occupied.  The  number  of  church  members  when 
they  entered  the  new  house  was  280;  '^03  have 
been  received  during  the  present  year,  so  that  the 
chiu-ch  now  numbers  483. 

In  looking  at  the  history  of  the  revival,  as  it  was 


60  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

manifested  in  this  congregation,  it  is  important  to 
remark,  that  it  commenced  before  there  was  any 
general  religious  movement  in  the  city.  It  was 
still  and  noiseless,  but  steady  and  onward.  The 
means  principally  blessed  were  the  plain,  direct 
preacliing  of  the  word,  and  the  prayers,  exhorta- 
tions and  private  conversation  of  the  brethren. 

Marlboro'  Chapel. 

First  Free  Congregational  Church. 

The  free  church  system,  as  pursued  in  New 
York  and  other  places,  having  proved  eminently 
successful,  it  was  deemed  desirable  by  several  in- 
dividuals that  it  should  be  introduced  into  this  city. 
A  meeting  was  called  for  that  purpose,  when  a 
covenant  and  a  code  of  by-laws  were  adopted  and 
signed  by  56  individuals,  belonging  to  the  Pine 
street,  Salem  and  Bowdoin  street  churches,  who 
were  recognized  as  the  "First  Free  Congregational 
Church"  in  Boston,  by  an  ecclesiastical  council 
convened  at  the  Essex  street  Church,  July  16lh, 
1835.  The  church  commenced  their  meetings  for 
worship  in  Richie  hall;  at^er  a  few  months  they 
removed  to  Congress  hall;  and  subsequently  to 
Amory  hall.  The  Marlboro'  Chapel  was  after- 
wards built  for  their  accommodation.  Rev.  Charles 
Fitch  was  installed  their  pastor,  May  24th,  1836. 
Rev.  A.  A.  Phelps  was  for  one  year  their  minister. 
Rev.  Mr.  Russell  is  the  present  officiating  minister. 
Mr.  Russell  gives  the  following  account  of  the  re- 
vival of  the  past  year. 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCHES.  61 

The  revival  in  this  congregation  commenced  in 
Oct.  1841.  Previous  to  that  time  the  congregation 
was  small,  and  the  interest  was  not  great.  Some 
of  the  people  of  God  felt  deeply  interested  in  having 
a  different  state  of  things.  Many  christians  had 
left  their  first  love,  and  sinners  were  slumbering 
under  the  wrath  of  God. 

At  this  time  and  in  such  a  state  of  things,  Rev. 
C.  G.  Finney  was  invited  to  come  and  labor  a  few 
weeks  in  promoting  the  work  of  the  Lord.  Owing 
to  the  state  of  br.  Firfney's  healtii,  and  to  previous 
engagements  of  the  chapel  for  other  purposes,  the 
church  were  unable  to  hold  meetings  more  than 
three  or  four  evenings  in  a  week.  But  labors 
were  not  in  vain  ;  the  congregations  rapidly  in- 
creased and  the  truth  went  with  the  searching 
power  of  the  Spirit  to  the  heart.  Some  professors 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  their  hearts  never  had 
been  right  in  the  sight  of  God ;  hence  they  gave  up 
their  hopes  and  humbled  themselves  for  the  first 
time  at  the  foot  of  the  cross.  Others  who  had 
wandered  from  God  by  wicked  works,  repented, 
confessed,  came  to  the  throne  of  grace  and  were 
filled  with  the  fulness  of  God.  As  multitudes  came 
into  the  meetings  who  were  connected  with  other 
churches,  and  who  were  in  a  dark  state  of  mind, 
the  most  of  the  jjreaching  was  directed  to  profes- 
sors of  religion  and  was  adapted  to  search  their 
hearts  and  lead  them  to  Christ  as  a  Saviour  from 
all  sin.  A  part  of  the  i)reaching,  however,  was  di- 
rected to  the  impenitent,  and  it  was  made  the 
5 


62  BOSTOJV    REVIVAIi. 

power  of  God  to  the  salvation  of  some  who  have 
since  been  bright  arid  shining  lights.  I  commenced 
laboring  with  the  church  in  Dec.  About  that  time 
br.  Finney  left,  and  br.  Knapp  came  into  the  city» 
While  br.  Knapp  was  laboring  in  the  north  part  of 
the  city,  the  work  continued  to  move  on.  The 
meetings  were  well  attended  and  sinners  fre- 
quently came  into  the  liberty  of  the  children  of 
God. 

During  the  latter  part  of  Mr.  Knapp's  labors  in 
the  city  he  preached  a  few  times  in  the  chapel. 
Some  of  the  converts  feel  that  the  preaching  of 
this  faithfid  servant  of  Christ  was  blessed  of  God 
to  the  conviction  and  conversion  of  their  souls. 
Some  of  the  converts  were  from  the  lowest  grades 
of  infamy  and  vice,  who,  since  their  conversion, 
have  given  evidence  that  "old  things  are  passed 
away  and  all  things  are  become  new." 

Though  the  interest  has  not  been  so  great  du- 
ring the  summer  as  it  was  during  the  winter  and 
spring,  yet  there  have  been  pleasing  evidences  that 
the  Lord  has  been  with  us.  We  have  had  weekly 
inquiry  meetings  during  the  whole  year,  at  which 
the  repenting  backslider  and  the  penitent  sinner 
have  frequently  been  blessed.  I  know  of  nothing 
that  caused  the  interest  to  subside  during  the  sum- 
mer except  a  want  of  a  spirit  of  i)rayer  and  of  ac- 
tive efforts  to  save  those  who  were  out  of  the  ark 
of  safety.  Within  a  few  weeks  past  the  spirit  of 
the  Lord  has  been  poured  out  with  increasing 
power,  and  some  twenty  or  thirty   have  hopefully 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCHES.  G3 

submitted  their  hearts  to  the  Lord.  We  have  had 
preaching  four  or  five  evenings  during  the  week, 
together  with  inquiry  and  prayer  meetings.  Br. 
George  Clark  has  been  assisting  me  in  these  la- 
bors. During  the  past  year  105  have  connected 
themselves  with  our  church.  Of  this  number  33 
have  joined  by  letter  from  other  churches,  and  72 
have  joined  on  profession  of  their  faith.  The  work, 
which  is  now  intei*esting  in  our  midst,  we  trust 
will  go  on  with  increasing  power  until  great  mul- 
titudes are  brought  into  the  liberty  of  the  sons  of 
God,  to  whom  be  glory  for  all  that  has  been  done 
for  us  during  the  past  year,  both  now  and  forever, 
Amen.    Number  in  the  church,  210. 

Garden  Street  Church. 

The  Garden  street  Church  was  organized  July 
2lst,  1841.  The  number  at  its  organization  was 
56.  They  were  dismissed  from  the  church  wor- 
shipping at  the  Marlboro'  Chapel.  Rev.  William 
R.  Chapman,  the  pastor,  was  ordained  Sept.  8th, 
1841.  The  building  occupied  by  this  church  as  a 
place  of  worship,  is  what  was  formerly  known  as 
the  Mission  House.  It  has  been  enlarged  and  re- 
paired so  as  to  make  a  very  convenient  place  of 
worship.  When  this  enterprise  commenced,  this 
church  was  a  feeble  band.  Well  might  they  say? 
"  By  whom  shall  Jacob  arise,  for  he  is  small  ?'^ 
They  felt  to  some  extent,  that  if  their  enterprise 
succeeded,  it  must  be  by  the  mighty  arm  of  the 


64  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

God  of  Jacob.  They  cast  themselves  upon  his  arm 
and  relied  upon  his  strength.  He  has  not  disap- 
pointed their  hopes.  He  has  indeed  done  for 
them  more  than  they  ever  expected.  The  Holy 
Spirit  has  been  in  their  midst,  from  the  beginning 
up  to  the  present  time.  God  has  blessed  the  or- 
dinary means  of  grace.  Efforts  have  been  made 
to  some  extent,  to  induce  those  who  had  neglected 
public  worship  to  attend.  Teachers  have  gone 
out  into  the  streets  and  lanes  of  the  city  to  compel 
children  to  come  to  the  Sabbath  school.  God  has 
given  success  to  these  efforts.  At  no  time  since  its 
existence,  has  the  congregation  been  without  anx- 
ious souls.  The  admissions  to  the  church  have 
been  126.  Total  number,  182.  The  individuals 
are  of  various  ages  and  conditions  in  life.  Some 
have  come  from  Unitarian,  some  from  Universal- 
ist,  and  others  from  no  congregation  at  all.  There 
is  evidence  that  the  Holy  Spirit  is  still  with  this 
people. 

TJie  success  of  this  enterprise  shows  what  might 
be  done  in  this  city  by  the  chapel  system.  Were 
there  erected  three  or  five  chapels  in  different  and 
the  most  destitute  parts  of  the  city,  a  small  church 
of  working  members  gathered,  and  a  devoted  pas- 
tor placed  over  them,  much  good  might  be  done. 
Four  or  five  chapels  could  be  built  with  the 
money  that  is  expended  in  erecting  a  large  church 
edifice. 


CONGREGATIONAIi    CHURCHES.  65 


« 


New  Congregational  Church. 

During  the  year  1840  and  41,  several  brethren 
of  the  Orthodox  Congregational  Churches  in  Bos- 
ton, were  impressed  with  the  importance  of  form- 
ing a  new  church  in  this  city,  with  a  view  of  ob- 
taining the  services  of  Rev.  Edward  N.  Kirk  as  its 
pastor.  These  impressions  having  been  strength- 
ened in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1841,  during  a 
season  of  special  religious  interest  in  the  churches, 
a  meeting  of  pastors  and  lay  brethren  was  called 
to  consider  the  subject,  Dec.  16,  1841.  The  breth- 
ren were  unanimously  of  the  opinion  that  it  was 
expedient  to  organize  anew  church,  provided  the 
services  of  Mr.  Kirk  could  be  secured,  and  assur- 
ances given  that  funds  could  be  obtained  sufficient 
to  erect  a  new  house  of  worship.  A  committee  of 
nine  was  chosen  to  consider  the  subject,  and  to 
take  such  measures  for  the  accomplishment  of  the 
object  as  they  should  deem  expedient.  This  com- 
mittee held  various  meetings  for  consultation  and 
prayer  between  Dec.  16  and  March  29th;  after  ob- 
taining the  names  of  twenty-five  brethren  who 
were  willing  to  embark  in  the  enterprise,  they  dis- 
solved, transferring  to  these  brethren  all  their 
powers  and  instructions,  and  commending  them  to 
the  great  Head  of  the  church.  During  the  months 
of  April  and  May,  the  brethren  who  had  thus  as- 
sociated themselves,  met  frequently  to  promote  the 
object  which  they  had  in  view  and  hold  a  weekly 
prayer  meeting.  These  twenty-five  brethren  and 
5* 


^6  o  fiOSTON    REVIVAL. 

twenty-two  sisters,  were  organized  into  a  church, 
at  the  vestry  of  Park  street  meeting-house,  June  1, 
1842,  and  at  the  same  time  Rev.  Edward  N.  Kirk 
was  invited  by  them  to  become  their  pastor;  and 
having  accepted  the  invitation,  he  was  installed  in 
the  afternoon  by  the  ecclesiastical  council  called 
to  organize  the  church.  The  church  now  wor- 
ships in  the  lecture  room  of  the  Masonic  Temple. 
Since  its  organization  it  has  received  35  members. 
Present  number  82.  We  hope  that  this  enterprise, 
which  was  begun  in  prayer,  will  be  prospered  by 
the  great  Head  of  the  church,  and  in  numbers  and 
strength  equal  her  elder  sisters  in  Zion. 

I  have  now  closed  my  history  of  the  Orthodox 
Congregational  churches  of  Boston  and  of  the  re- 
cent revival.  The  churches  are  fourteen  in  num- 
ber, contain  an  aggregate  of  5004  members,  of 
which  1102  have  been  added  as  the  fruits  of  the 
late  revival.  If  we  look  back  thirty  years,  when 
the  Old  South,  of  all  the  original  Congregational 
churches  of  Boston,  stood  alone  upon  the  platform 
of  the  fathers,  well  may  we  exclaim.  What  hath 
God  wrought!  She  has  now  thirteen  younger  sis- 
ters. The  increase  of  Orthodox  churches  in  this 
city,  under  God,  has  been  in  a  great  degree  owing 
to  the  colonizing  system.  To  advance  the  cause 
of  evangelical  religion,  brethren  of  different 
churches  have  vohmteered  to  go  out  and  form  new 
churches.  God  has  greatly  blessed  these  eflbrts. 
The  same  Holy  Spirit  that  was  poured  out  upon 
the   churches    around    Blassachusetts    bay,   wlien 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCHES.  Q7 

they  were  first  planted,  has  returned,  and  is  turn- 
ing back  the  captivity  of  this  portion  of  Zion. 

Within  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  more  than 
100  new  Orthodox  churches  have  been  gathered 
in  this  ancient  commonwealth.  Many  of  these 
churches  are  located  in  places  that  have  for  a 
long  time  been  overrun  with  error. 

Those  that  adhere  to  the  faith  of  the  pilgrims, 
Lave  been  so  blessed  of  God  that  they  have  abun- 
dant encouragement  to  persevere.  He  that  has 
multiplied  in  Boston  one  church  into  fourteen,  will 
not  now  abandon  them.  If  the  legitimate  sons  and 
daughters  of  the  pilgrims  are  faithful  to  their  God,  , 
he  will  reclaim  this  whole  city  to  himself 

The  following  is  a  summary  view  of  the  present 
state  of  the  churches. 


Churches.                      Admissions 

ml842. 

WRole  No. 

Old  South, 

42 

502 

Park  Street, 

101 

671 

Essex  Street, 

52 

572 

Bovvdoin  Street, 

135 

671 

Green  Street, 

41 

256 

South  Boston, 

40 

251 

Pine  Street, 

35 

278 

Salem  Street, 

137 

587 

Central  Church, 

203 

489 

East  Boston, 

20 

80 

Mariners'  Church, 

30 

173 

Marlboro'  Chapel, 

105 

210 

Garden  Street, 

126 

182 

New  Church, 

35 

82 

1102  5004 


<j8  boston  revival. 


CHAPTER  V. 
BAPTIST   CHURCHES.. 

First  Baptist  Church — Baldwin  Place  Church — Charles    street 
Baptist  Church — Federal  street  Baptist  Church. 

The  first  Baptist  church  was  gathered  May,  1665. 
This  was  at  a  time  when  the  nature  of  religious 
liberty  was  very  imperfectly  understood.  Our  fa- 
thers that  ])lanted  the  Congregational  churches, 
thought  that  no  other  religious  denomination  had  a 
right  to  come  here  and  set  up  any  otlier  modes  of 
worship^  or  introduce  any  other  religious  ceremo- 
nies than  those  practised  by  thenjselves.  A  rem- 
nant of  popery  was  left  even  among  those  who 
supposed  tliat  they  had  planted  their  churches  on 
the  primitive  foundation. 

The  individuals  who  founded  this  church  had 
held  meetings  several  years  on  the  Sabbath  be- 
fore they  were  an  organized  body.  For  holding 
these  meetings  they  were  severely  fined,  and  other- 
wise afflicted  by  the  civil  authorities.  They  tiien 
retreated  to  a  private  dwelling  on  Noddle's  Island. 
Here  they  for  a  considerable  length  of  time  con- 
tinued their  meetings,  when  they  resolved  to  build 
themselves  a  meeting-house.  In  this  they  suc- 
ceeded in  avoiding  the  suspicions  of  their  opposers, 


BAPTIST    CHURCHES.  69 

until  their  house  was  publicly  dedicated,  Feb.  15, 
1679.  The  opening  of  this  house  so  offended  the 
civil  authorities  that  they  nailed  up  the  doors,  and 
the  following  notice  was  posted  upon  the  door. 
"  All  persons  are  to  take  notice,  that  by  order  of  the 
court,  the  doors  of  this  house  are  shut  up,  and  that 
they  are  inhibited  to  hold  any  meeting,  or  to  open 
the  doors  thereof  without  license  from  authority, 
till  the  General  Court  take  further  order,  as  they 
shall  answer  the  controversy  at  their  peril."  Dated 
at  Boston,  8th  of  March,  1680.  Edward  Rawson, 
Secretary. 

On  the  following  Sabbath,  they  held  public  wor- 
ship in  the  yard  front  of  the  meeting-house  ;  soon 
after,  the  government  ordered  the  doors  to  be 
opened  again.  But  they  resolved  to  take  more  ef- 
fectual means  to  crush  the  church.  Many  of  its 
members  were  harrassed,  fined  and  imprisoned. 
Three  of  its  first  pastors  were  at  different  times  put 
into  close  confinement.  One  of  them  was  im- 
prisoned for  nearly  three  years.  But  after  a  time, 
the  spirit  of  toleration  began  to  be  better  under- 
stood. In  1718  several  of  the  Congregational  clergy 
of  Boston  assisted  in  the  ordination  of  Mr.  EHsha 
Callender.  I  mention  these  facts  to  show  how  very 
imperfectly  our  fathers  understood  the  nature  of 
religious  liberty,  and  not  to  cast  reproaches  upon 
their  memory.  Vital  religion  was  maintained  in 
this  church.  It  shared  in  common  with  the  other 
churches  of  Boston  in  the  "  great  awakening"  of 
1740.    Dr.  Stillraan,  whose  praise  is  still  in  the 


'70  BOSTON    RETIVAl.. 

churches,  became  its  pastor  in  1765,  and  continued 
such  until  1807.  His  was  a  long  and  successful 
ministry.  During  some  of  the  last  years  of  his 
ministry,  he  was  permitted  to  witness  a  revival  of 
religion  of  greater  extent  and  power  than  had 
blessed  this  town  since  the  memorable  period  of 
1740.  As  this  was  the  first  season  of  special  mercy 
that  this  town  enjoyed  in  the  early  i)art  of  the 
present  century,  and  as  it  was  the  first  in  the  series 
of  revivals  that  hav€  since  followed,  its  history  is 
now  become  a  matter  of  deep  interest.  In  the  Bap- 
tist Magazine  of  1804  and  5,  this  work  is  described^ 
"  A  special  seriousness  made  its  appearance  in 
both  Baptist  churches  early  in  1803.  Its  first  indi- 
cations were  a  solemn  stillness,  and  a  deep  fixed 
attention  on  the  Sabbath.  The  work  gradually 
continued  to  extend  from  week  to  week,  through 
two  or  three  years.  "What  are  now  known  as  inquiry 
meetings,  were  not  then  instituted.  But  there  was 
what  amounted  to  the  same  thing.  "  It  has  been 
usual  during  the  fall,  winter  and  spring  months,'* 
says  the  Magazine,  "while  the  evenings  were  suf- 
ficiently long,  for  the  people  to  tarry  after  the  bles- 
sing, and  frequently  some  minister  present  has 
again  addressed  them.  Sometimes  two  or  three 
have  spoken  and  prayed.  This  custom  seemed  to 
arise  out  ol"  the  feelings  of  the  people.  They  ap- 
peared loath  to  leave  the  place.  There  is  no  doubt 
but  they  would  have  tarried  until  midnight,  had  the 
exhortations  been  continued."  The  number  gath- 
ered into  the  First  church  was  127 ;  into  the  Second 


BAFTIST    CHURCHES.  71 

185.  "Although  these  two  societies  Ijave  been  the 
principal  sharers  in  the  work,"  says  the  Magazine, 
"  it  has  not  been  confined  to  them.  Persons  from 
almost  every  society  in  town,  and  numbers  from 
the  adjacent  towns,  have  frequently  attended  on 
our  lectures  ;  and  we  have  reason  to  believe  that 
many  have  reaped  saving  advantages. 

"The  church  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Eckley  has  received  considerable  additions  since 
the  work  began.  This  good  man's  heart  had  been 
much  engaged  in  the  work,  and  would,  we  believe, 
have  rejoiced  to  have  saen  it  among  his  people. 
He  has  frequently  attended,  and  assisted  in  the 
public  lectures,  in  both  of  the  Baptist  meetings. 
It  has  afforded  much  pleasure  to  the  friends  of  vital 
godliness,  to  see  this  friendly  connection.  We 
earnestly  hope  that  it  may  ever  continue." 

The  work  was  still,  and  without  confusion.  The 
gospel  preached  was  principally  blessed.  Almost 
evenj  thing  seemed  to  preach.  The  converts  generally 
had  a  deep  sense  of  the  depravity  of  their  own 
hearts;  of  the  infinite  evil  of  sin,  as  committed 
against  an  holy  God.  It  reclaimed  the  profane 
swearer,  the  gambler,  and  the  Sabbath  breaker. 
It  made  the  young  men  "  sober  minded." 

Rev.  Mr.  Clay  succeeded  Dr.  Still  man.  He  had 
a  ministry  of  about  two  years.  Rev.  James  M. 
Winchell  was  ordained  in  1814,  and  continued  his 
pastoral  relation  until  his  death  in  1820.  Dr. 
Wayland  was  pastor  from  1821  to  26.  Rev.  C.  P, 
Grosvenor  was  minister  four  years.    Rev.  William 


72     ■  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

Hague  was  Installed  Feb.  5,  1831 ;  dismissed  June^ 
1837.  During  his  ministry  190  were  received  to 
the  cjjurch  by  baptism,  and  51  by  letter.  Rev.  R. 
H.  Neale  was  installed  Sept.  1837.  During  his 
ministry  the  Holy  Spirit  has  frequently  descended 
upon  this  church.  The  firs^t  year  after  his  installa- 
tion, 127  persons  were  admitted  to  the  church.  The 
year  ending  Sept.  1840,  75  were  added  to  their 
number.  This  is  the  mother  of  all  the  Baptist 
churches  in  Boston.  She  has  from  time  to  time 
sent  forth  her  numbers  to  assist  in  forming  new 
churches.  Her  present  number  of  members  is  725, 
of  these  27  were  received  by  Dr.  Stillman  ;  3  when 
the  church  was  destitute  of  a  pastor;  27  by  Mr. 
Winchell ;  14  by  Mr.  Grosvenor  ;  134  by  Mr.  Hague  ; 
and  508  by  Mr.  Neale.  266  have  been  received 
the  present  year.  The  pastor  says,  that  "  a  majori- 
ty of  the  converts  are  heads  of  families,  business 
men  in  the  vigor  of  life,  strong,  active  and  enter- 
prising. Our  society  men,  the  '  Broad  aisle  pevv 
proprietors,'  who  are  generally  gospel  hardened, 
and  the  last  to  be  converted,  are,  with  scarcely  an 
exception,  subjects  of  the  work.  The  members  of 
the  singing  choir  (60  or  70  in  number)  are  nearly 
all  converted.  In  the  Sabbath  school  many  of  the 
children  have  learned  to  sing  hosannas  to  the  Son 
of  David. 

"The  instrumentalities  employed  in  the  promo- 
lion  of  this  work,"  says  Mr.  Neale,  "  have  been  such 
as  were  employed  in  the  great  revival  on  the    day  . 
of  Pentecost — the  preaching  the  gospel  and  prayer. 


BAPTIST    CHURCHES.  73 

The  protracted  meeting  that  continued  during  the 
period  of  nearly  three  months,  and  in  which  Elder 
Knapp  chiefly  officiated,  is  doubtless  the  cliief 
agency  to  which,  under  God,  this  work  of  grace  is 
to  be  attributed,  and  from  personal  acquaintance 
with  Mr.  Knapp,  and  a  constant  attendance  on  his 
ministry  while  in  this  city,  I  am  not  surprised  at 
the  results.  If  there  is  power  in  truth  plainly  and 
fearlessly  expressed ;  if  there  is  efficiency  in  prayer 
offered  up  in  secret  and  in  public,  constantly  and 
earnestly  to  God ;  and  if  a  life  of  entire  consecra- 
tion to  our  divine  Master's  will,  contributes  to  the 
power  of  the  pulpit  and  the  prevalence  of  prayer, 
the  success  that  attends  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Knapp 
is  not  a  matter  of  wonder;  but  is  in  accordance 
with  the  most  reasonable  expectations." 

"  The  distinguishing  peculiarity  of  Mr.  Knapp's 
character  and  ministry  is  faith.  He  has  no  peculiar 
philosophy,  no  peculiar  religious  sentiments.  He 
lias  no  peculiar  means,  and  measures.  But  the 
truths  which  other  christians  admit  in  theory,  are 
with  him  living  realities.  Hence  he  is  deeply  and 
habitually  in  earnest,  preaching  and  praying  like 
one  who  believes  what  he  says,  and  knows  the 
things  whereof  he  affirms.  He  goes  to  his  work 
with  the  most  perfect  confidence  of  success,  seem- 
ing to  say  with  the  apostle,  '  I  run  not  as  uncertain- 
ly;  so   fight  I  not  as   one   that  beateth    the   air.'" 

These  are  the  views  of  one  who  had  full  opportu- 
nity to  see  and  hear  much    of  Mr.  Knapp.    But 
all  good   people  have  not  the  same  views  of  his 
6 


74  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

mode  of  preaching,  or  his  method  of  conducting 
inquiry  meetings.  Many  feel  strong  objections  to 
them  both.  But  I  think  that  there  is  wisdom  in 
the  reply  made  by  a  certain  minister  to  a  parish- 
ioner who  asked  him  what  he  thought  about  his 
going  to  hear  Mr.  Knapp,  '  Oh,'  said  he,  '  if  he 
casts  out  devils  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  we  must 
not  forbid  him,  if  he  does  not  follow  us." 

Particular  cases  of  conversion  connected  with 
the  First  Baptist  church. 

One  man  had  for  a  series  of  years  been  a  drunk- 
ard, in  the  city  of  New  York.  Two  years  ago  last 
winter,  his  landlord  warned  him  out  of  his  house  in 
the  midst  of  the  cold  season,  because  he  had  failed 
to  pay  his  rent.  His  wife  told  the  landlord  that  it 
was  impossible  for  them  to  go;  that  they  had  no 
place  to  which  they  could  flee.  She  was  then  ex- 
pecting to  be  confined  within  a  week.  Her  land- 
lord had  some  compassioii  on  her,  and  told  her 
that  they  might  go  into  the  building  over  his  ice 
house,  a  sort  of  shanty  place.  Here  they  passed 
the  winter.  The  husband  frequently  came  home 
drunk.  In  the  spring  they  came  on  to  Boston. 
The  husband  joined  the  total  abstinence  society. 
She  attended  meeting  and  was  converted.  She 
soon  brought  her  husband  with  her.  It  was  not 
long  before  he  was  convicted  of  sin,  arose  in  a 
prayer  meeting  and  solicited  the  prayers  of  God's 
people.  In  a  little  while  he  gaVe  up  his  heart  to 
the  Saviour,  was  baptized,  and  thus  far  has  main^ 
tained  a  life  of  visible  piety* 


BAPTIST    CHURCHES.  75 

In  another  case,  a  man  of  respectable  family  be- 
came dissipated,  abandoned  his  family,  and  was  ab- 
sent from  the  country  a  considerable  length  of  time. 
On  his  return,  his  wife  received  him  again  ;  she  still 
hoped  that  he  would  reform.  He  came  into  the 
meeting  where  he  had  not  been  for  years,  and 
went  home  deeply  affected.  He  was  so  distressed 
that  he  could  not  sleep  during  the  silent  watches 
of  the  night.  He  had  before  this  been  into  an  in- 
fidel meeting,  heard  the  bible  and  the  Holy  Ghost 
ridiculed.  Even  this  tended  to  fasten  conviction 
more  deeply  on  his  mind.  He  felt  that  he  was  so 
wicked,  that  there  was  nothing  but  the  Holy  Ghost 
that  could  subdue  such  a  heart  as  his.  This  was 
his  only  hope.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the  church, 
restored  to  his  family  as  a  husband  and  a  father. 

Three  brothers,  all  rumsellers,  have  renounced 
the  traffic,  and  embraced  the  religion  that  doeth  no 
ill  to  its  neighbor. 

During  the  progress  of  this  work,  eight  rumsel- 
lers in  this  congregation  have  given, up  the  traffic. 
The  consciences  of  others  have  been  disturbed  for 
a  time,  who  finally  have  not  abandoned  the  work  of 
death. 

Baldwin  Place  Church. 

This  church  was  formerly  known  by  the  name 
of"  Second  Baptist  Church."  Six  brethren  entered 
into  covenant,  and  constituted  this  church,  July  27, 
1743.  Additions  were  made  to  their  number,  and 
in  a  short  time  they  increased  to  40.    Their  first 


76  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

pastor  was  Mr.  Ephraim  Bound,  who  was  selected 
from  among  themselves,  was  ordained  Sept.  7,  of  the 
same  year.  This  ordination  took  place  at  East 
Greenwich,  R.  1.,  "for  the  sake,"  as  the  record  sa3's, 
"of  those  elders,  who  were  invited  by  us  to  assist, 
and  who  lived  remote  and  at  a  great  distance  from 
Boston."  Additions  were  made  to  their  numbers 
from  most  of  the  towns  within  20  miles  round.  In 
1746  they  numbered  120,  and  erected  a  meeting- 
house 45  by  33  feet. 

Between  1743  and  '90,  Rev.  Messrs.  Bound,  Da- 
vis, Stillman  and  Gair  were  successively  pastors. 
Rev.  Dr.  Baldwin  was  installed  Nov.  11,  1790.  A 
precious  revival  soon  followed  his  settlement. 
About  200  were  added  to  this  church  in  the  re- 
vival of  1804  and  '5,  a  partial  account  of  which  was 
given  in  the  history  of  the  First  church.  Between 
1790  and  1814,  Dr.  B.  baptized  664  persons ;  90 
were  the  number  of  the  church  when  his  labors 
commenced,  and  450  when  they  closed. 

Dr.  Baldwin,  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  was 
the  patriarch  of  the  denomination  to  which  he  be- 
longed. His  memory  is  still  held  in  grateful  re- 
membrance  by  the  christian   community  at  large. 

Rev.  James  D.  Knowles  was  the  next  pastor  of 
this  church.  He  was  ordained  Dec.  28,  1825.  He 
continued  their  pastor  nearly  seven  years,  and  was 
then  dismissed  to  enter  upon  the  duties  of  profes- 
sor in  the  Newton  Seminary.  260  persons  joined 
the  church  under  his  ministry.  The  installation  of 
Rev.  Baron  Stow,  the  present  pastor,  took  place 


BAPTIST    CHURCHES.  77 

Nov.  15,  1832.  Since  Iiis  settlement,  857  have 
been  baptized,  and  the  church  numbers  861.  It  is 
supposed  that  this  is  the  largest  church  in  New 
England  of  any  denomination.  About  80  were 
dismissed  to  aid  in  forming  the  church  at  Bowdoin 
Square,  and  a  large  number  previously  to  consti- 
tute the  church  at  Chelsea,  the  Boylston  church,  and 
the  church  under  the  care  of  Rev.  Mr.  Colver. 
The  church  at  Charlestown,  the  two  churches  at 
Cambridge,  tlie  church  at  Watertown,  South  Boston, 
and  Federal  street,  are  all  indebted  to  this  church 
for  many  of  their  members.  She  has  been  a  fruit- 
ful vine  that  hath  sent  forth  her  branches  in  various 
directions.  "This  church  is  characterized  by  its 
enlarged  benevolence,  its  uniform  harmony,  the  so- 
ciality and  mutual  confidence  of  its  members,  the 
attachment  existing  between  the  people  and  its 
pastor,  and  its  interest  in  the  religious  instruc- 
tion and  education  of  the  young.  It  has  connected 
with  it  the  largest  Baptist  Sabbath  school  in  the 
city." 

This  church  has  largely  participated  in  the  re- 
vival of  the  present  year ;  187  have  been  baptized. 
A  number  of  individuals  attribute  their  conversion, 
under  God,  to  the  preaching  of  Mr.  Knapp.  Others 
were  awakened  some  by  one  means,  and  others  by 
others.  "  We  have  not  discovered,"  says  the  asso- 
ciational  letter,  "any  difference  between  these  con- 
verts, and  those  received  at  other  times  and  in 
other  circumstances."  The  revival  commenced  in 
the  autumn,  and  continued  through  the  winter  and 
6* 


78  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

spring.  The  meeting-house  is  now  undergoing  ex- 
tensive repairs,  and  the  congregation  is  much  scat- 
tered. 

This  church  has  now  attained  to  its  99th  year.  It 
is  not  enfeebled  by  old  age,  but  has  more  strength 
and  vigor,  at  the  present  time,  than  it  ever  had  in 
any  past  period  of  its  history.  The  greatest  fault 
to  be  found  with  it  is,  that  its  numbers  are  too 
large.  There  is  not  room  for  them  all  to  work. 
They  stand  in  each  other's  way.  Were  the  church 
divided,  and  did  it  occupy  two  houses,  they  would 
feel  their  individual  responsibility  more,  and  they 
would  accomplish  more  for  the  cause  of  Zion.  I 
hope  that  ere  long  they  will  send  forth  an  infant 
colony  that  will  soon  have  the  vigor  and  strength 
of  a  full  grown  man. 

Charles  Street  Baptist  Church. 

This  church  was  organized  in  1807.  It  then 
numbered  24  members.  Rev.  Mr.  Blood  was  its 
first  pastor.  Rev.  D.  Sharp,  D.  D.,  present  pastor, 
was  installed  April,  1S]2.  Thischurch  has  enjoyed 
several  seasons  of  special  interest,  particularly  in 
1827,  '8  and  '9.  Year  after  year  there  have  been 
moderate  ingatherings.  More  than  400  members 
have  at  different  times  been  dismissed  to  aid  in 
organizing  other  churches.  In  the  letter  to  the 
last  association,  this  church  says,  "  we  have  nothing 
new,  or  surprising  to  relate.  We  have  embraced 
no  new  doctrines,  nor  have  we  resorted  to  any  new 


BAPTIST    CHURCHES.  79 

measures.  We  still  hold  fast '  the  form  of  sound 
words;'  nor  is  the  preaching  of  our  pastor,  either 
as  to  doctrine,  or  practice,  <lifferent  from  what  it 
was  when  he  came  among  us  31  years  ago." 

The  pastor  has  remiiined  a  longer  period  in  his 
office  than  any  of  his  brethren  of  the  same  denom- 
ination. Neither  the  pastor  or  church  are  given  to 
change.  They  are  not  carried  away  with  novelties 
in  doctrines,  or  novelties  in  measures.  They  hold 
on  to  the  good  old  way.  Present  number  of  the 
church,  370;  added  the  last  year,  17. 

Federal  Street  Baptist  Church. 

This  church  originated  in  the  "Boston  Baptist 
Evangelical  Society."  Meetings  were  first  held  in 
a  hall  in  Purchase  street.  In  1827  they  removed 
to  Julien  hall,  in  Milk  street.  The  church  was 
constituted  of  65  members,  July  16th,  1827;  and 
the  meeting-house  was  opened  on  the  18th  of  the 
same  month.  Rev.  Howard  Malcom  was  installed 
Nov.  15,  1827.  He  was  dismissed  Sept.  1835. 
Rev.  Messrs.  Ide  and  Nott  have  each  been  pastors 
for  a  short  period.  Rev.  William  Hague,  the  pres- 
ent pastor,  was  installed  July,  1840.  "For  some 
years  previous  to  this,"  says  the  printed  record, 
"accessions  of  families  to  the  congregation  had 
been  very  few ;  while  large  draughts  had  been 
made  on  it  by  removals  from  the  city,  and  by  new 
churches  formed  in  the  city  about  this  time."  In 
March,  1839,  31  members,  many  of  them  heads  of 


80  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

families,  were  dismissed  to  unite  with  otiiers  in 
forming  the  Boylston  church  ;  and  in  the  following 
April,  31  were  dismissed  at  the  formation  of  the 
Free  Baptist  church ;  nineteen  were  soon  after 
dismissed  to  Bowdoin  Square.  A  large  portion  of 
the  church  in  South  Boston  went  out  from  this. 

The  associational  letter  says,  "during  the  past 
year  the  labors  of  their  pastor  have  been  twice  sus- 
pended by  disease,  and  many  of  their  numbers 
have,  from  various  causes,  been  absent  from  the 
city.  They  have,  however,  enjoyed  an  interesting 
revival,  in  which  the  Sabbath  school  has  particu- 
larly shared.  They  have  been  making  an  effort  to 
rid  themselves  of  a  debt  of  $15,000,  on  which  ac- 
count they  have  been  able  to  do  less  than  usual  for 
benevolent  objects." 

This  revival  was  carried  on  by  the  church  in  its 
organized  capacity.  The  pastor,  deacons,  and 
private  christians,  labored  in  their  several  spheres 
to  promote  it.  The  number  added  to  the  church 
has  been  85;  the  present  number  of  church  mem- 
bers 476. 


BAPTIST    CHURCHES.  81 


CHAPTER  VI. 

South  Boston  Baptist  Church — Boylston  Street  Church — First 
Free  Baptist  Church — Bowdoiii  Square  Baptist  Church — 
First  Independent  Baptist  Church — Conchjding  remarkn 
upon  this  denomination — Statistical  view  of  the  Baptist 
churches. 

South  Boston  Baptist  Church. 

This  church  was  gathered  in  1831.  The  pastor 
says,  that  "the  church  was  revived  some  months 
before  the  reformation  commenced.  No  conver- 
sions occurred  till  some  time  in  January,  1842. 
There  have  been  received  into  the  church  upon 
the  profession  of  their  faith,  133.  Some  of  these 
had  indulged  hopes  before  the  revival,  and  some 
are  indulging  hopes,  that  have  not  yet  professed 
religion.  Of  those  who  have  joined  the  church 
about  one  fifth  have  alluded  to  br.  Knapp  as 
arousing  their  old  hope,  or  being  directly  or  indi- 
rectly, the  instrument  of  their  conviction  and  con- 
version. A  few  have  spoken  of  br.  Miller  as  the 
cause  of  their  thougtfulness  which  ended  in  sub- 
mission to  God,  though  not  believing  in  the  theory 
of  1843. 

"I  should  think  that  fasting  and  prayer,  exhorta- 
tions and  individual  efforts  of  both  old  and  young 
christians  and  young  converts,  have  had  a  large 
filiare   in  the  instrumentality  visibly    seen.     We 


82  BOSTON    REVIAVL. 

have  had  several  fast  davs,  one  of  which  will  never 
be  forgotten  by  the  members  of  this  church.  Nine 
thought  that  they  became  reconciled  to  God  before 
the  meeting  closed.  One,  in  the  bitterness  of  his 
soul,  cried  out  for  mercy,  while  prayer  was  offering 
to  God,  so  loud  and  in  accents  so  heart-touching, 
that  a  thrill  of  indescribable  feeling  passed  through 
the  whole  assembly.  He  is  now  an  exemplary 
Christian. 

"We  had  regular  prayer  meetings  on  Saturday 
evening  for  all  who  should  be  named  either  ver- 
bally or  by  note,  as  subjects  of  prayer.  Thia 
meeting  was  much  blessed.  Thirteen  husbands 
of  pious  wives,  who  were  among  those  named  in 
this  meeting,  to  all  human  appearance  were  con- 
verted. Pious  wives  held  meetings  to  pray  for 
their  impenitent  husbands.  The  Holy  Spirit's 
operations  were  most  manifest  and  sovereign 
through  the  whole  work.  One  female  who  had 
not  been  to  meeting  but  once  in  five  years,  whose 
husband  said  that  she  must  obtain  religion  at  home, 
was  struck  under  conviction  at  home  before  she 
saw  either  meeting-house  or  minister,  and  was  ap- 
parently converted  to  God.  Another  female  about 
sixty-five  years  of  age,  had  her  attention  arrested 
by  an  infidel's  saying  to  her  several  times,  (for  the 
purpose  of  ridicule,)  "Prepare  to  meet  thy  God." 
She  is  now  a  member  of  this  church.  A  man  who 
Jiad  commenced  life  with  a  large  fortune,  and  run 
the  whole  round  of  dissipation,  was  converted  at 
the  eleventh  hour.    Having  spent  a  large  fortune: 


BAPTIST    CHURCHES.  83 

in  vice,  he  was  asked  by  a  friend,  "How  do  you 
feel  when  you  think  of  what  you  have  done?" 
"  Think"  si/id  he,  " do  you  think  that  1  am  such  a 
d dfool  as  to  stop  to  think  f  He  was  finally  ta- 
ken sick,  and  when  he  recovered  he  tried  to  re- 
turn to  one  of  his  old  vices,  drinking  spirit,  but 
found  that  his  head  was  too  weak.  He  then  re- 
sorted to  wine,  but  this  was  too  strong  for  him ; 
even  cider  and  beer  used  him  no  better.  The  con- 
sequence was  that  he  began  to  think,  and  soon 
found  his  M'ay  to  the  house  of  God,  which  he  had 
seldom  visited  for  twenty  years.  His  convictions 
increased,  and  for  twelve  months  he  might  l)e 
found  every  day  upon  his  knees  in  his  stable.  His 
friends  thought  him  beside  himself.  At  length  he 
was  brought  into  the  liberty  of  the  gospel,  the 
standing  marvel  of  drunkards,  gamblers  and  debau- 
chees. He  is  now  ^^fool  enough  to  thinks  Another 
individual,  who  on  the  anniversary  of  Tom  Paine's 
birth  day,  1841,  dined  with  a  company  of  infidels 
at  a  private  house  and  drank  with  others  the  fol- 
lowing toast,  "The  bible  and  jDriestcraft,  may  we 
live  to  see  them  both  trampled  in  the  mud  under 
our  feet,"  was  of  the  number  converted.  He  had 
been  made  the  subject  of  special  prayer  by  several 
of  his  friends  a  number  of  years  before  his  conver- 
sion. The  individual  who  gave  the  toast  at  the  Tom 
Paine  dinner,  was  deprived  of  health  and  in  a  fit  of 
derangement  killed  himself  He  was  confined  by 
his  sufferings  in  the  fourth  story  of  a  boarding 
house,  and  in  his  delirium  thought  that  the  devil  was 


84  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

after  him  and  to  escape  his  grasp  phinged  out  ot" 
the  window,  and  falling  upon  the  curb-stone 
dashed  his  brains  out.  This  occurrence  led  his 
acquaintance  to  reflect  upon  his  life.  He  became 
a  temperance  man.  His  convictions  still  increased  j 
he  however  formed  a  determination  that  he  would 
not  be  converted  in  the  vestry  of  the  South  Baptist 
Church.  But  God's  will  or  ways  are  not  as  man's 
will  or  ways.  On  the  anniversary  of  Tom  Paine's 
birth  day,  1842,  he  came  into  the  evening  meeting 
in  a  state  little  short  of  despair.  He  asked  prayers, 
in  broken  accents,  that  God  would  have  mercy  on 
his  soul  for  Christ's  sake,  and  before  he  left  the 
vestry  he  found  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ. 

"There  was  one  more  case  of  an  individual  who 
had  agreed  to  go  to  meeting  in  company  with  ano- 
ther opposer  (who  a  short  time  before  had  chal- 
lenged all  God's  people  to  pray  for  him,  a  Universal' 
ist)  to  give  the  second  challenge.  His  hatred  was  ^o 
great  to  the  truth,  that  he  took  his  companion  out 
of  the  house  of  God  in  service  time;  but  now  is  an 
humble,  penitent  worship[»er   in  the  same  house.'* 

Present  number  of  the  church,  317.  Thomas 
Driver,  Pastor. 


baptist  churches.  85 

Harvard  Street  Church, 
(Formerly   Boylston   Street   Church.) 

This  church  was  organized  March  27th,  1839. 
It  has  used  the  "Melodeou"  as  a  place  of  worship, 
but  now  occupies  their  meeting-house  at  the 
corner  of  Harvard  street  and  Harrison  avenue. 
"The  history  of  this  church,"  says  their  associa- 
tional  letter,  "  for  the  past  year,  has  been  one  of 
unusual  interest.  They  have  received  a  mighty 
impulse  from  the  late  revjval  of  religion,  and 
scarcely  a  month  has  passed  without  considerable 
addition  of  numbers  to  the  church,  while  at  the 
same  time  their  gifts  and  graces  have  been  brought 
into  lively  and  frequent  exercise.  They  admit 
that  much  imperfection  attaches  to  them  all  ;  at 
the  same  time  they  gratefully  acknowledge  the 
manifold  tokens  of  their  Heavenly  Father's  love, 
by  which  they  trust  that  beside  external  prosper- 
ity, they  have  been  able  to  make  some  advance 
with  respect  to  interior  purity  and  excellence.  So 
far  as  they  can  judge,  the  steadfastness  of  the  con- 
verts is  exceedingly  encouraging.  Indications  ap- 
pear among  them  of  still  greater  enlargement  and 
prosperity.  Their  Sabbath  school  is  in  a  state  of 
great  interest."  A  spacious  edifice  for  the  wor- 
ship of  God  is  just  finished. 

In  1840,  122  were  added  to  the  church  ;  1841,  45. 

1842,240;  in  all,  407,-127  males  and  280  females  ; 

making  the    number    that   have    belonged   to   the 

church,  in  all,  about  558;  so  that  the  church  has 

7 


86  BosTaN  nfiviVAr.. 

more  than  quadrupled  its  original  number  of  mem- 
bers. It  is  a  curious  and  interesting  fact,  that  the 
present  number  of  males  bear  precisely  the  same 
proportion  to  that  of  tire  females,  that  it  did  when 
the  church  was  constituted.  The  church  is  now  in 
a  highly  prosperous  condition.  Rev.  R.  Turnbully 
pastor. 

The  pastor  of  this  church  has  published  a  de- 
tailed account  of  individual  conversions.  "Three 
Universalists,"  says  the  pastor,  "one  a  young  marr 
%vith  a  clear,  vigorous  mind,  another  in  middle 
life,  sober  and  industrious,  and  the  third  some- 
what advanced  in  3'ears  all  convinced  of  the 
utter  hoUowness  and  heartlessness  of  Univer- 
salism,  were  brought  to  the  Saviour's  feet  and  are 
all  very  happy  in  the  God  of  their  salvation. 

"  Six  members  of  one  family,  none  of  whom  had 
known  any  thing  of  re.igion,  the  father  and 
mother,  two  boys,  a  daughter  and  her  husband. 
The  father  had  read  Thomas  Paine  and  was  some- 
thing of  an  infidel,  very  worldly  and  self-righteous, 
had  neglected  the  Sabbath,  the  word  of  God  and 
the  means  of  grace.  To  use  his  own  expression, 
he  was  "  lackered  all  over  with  self-righteousness,* 
doubted  the  insi)iration  of  the  scriptures  and  the 
immortality  of  the  soul.  They  were  all  brought 
to  see  themselves  perishing  sinners,  and  found 
peace  and  joy  in  believing.  The  voice  of  prayer 
and  praise  is  now  heard  in  thoir  habitation. 

"A  young  man,  a  decided    infidel,  hard  and  i)re-' 


BAPTIST    CHURCHES.  87 

judiced.  But  he  discovered  his  guilt  and  groaned 
under  its  pressure.  This  scattered  all  infidel 
cavils  and  prepared  him  to  receive  and  appreciate 
the  gospel. 

"Another  man,  an  infidel,  intelligent  and  agree- 
iihle  as  a  man,  was  present  at  the  celebration  of 
Paiiie's  birth  day.  Had  previously  sent  br.  Knapp 
an  invitation  to  attend  the  celebration.  Worked  in 
the  office  of  the  Investigator,  the  infidel  paper  of 
this  city.  He  heard  Mr.  Knapp  preach  a  few 
times.  After  he  left  the  city  he  began,  almost  im- 
perceptibly to  himself,  to  feel  dissatisfied  with  his 
infidelity  and  especially  with  the  state  of  his  heart. 
Tried  to  pray  and  went  to  meeting.  Felt  the 
power  of  God,  saw  the  glory  of  the  gospel,  and  his 
infidelity  was  scattered  to  the  winds.  He  then 
acknowledged  that  his  skepticism,  though  cher- 
ished with  apparent  honesty,  was  the  result  of  dis- 
ordered afi:ections ;  and  hence  the  moment  that  he 
began  to  feel  right  towards  God,  his  doubts  were 
dissipated  like  mist  before  the  rising  sun. 

"  Several  Unitarians,  or  persons  who  were  accus- 
tomed to  sit  under  Unitarian  preaching  and  had 
imbibed  their  sentiments,  all  had  relied  upon  their 
goodness  as  they  termed  it,  that  is,  upon  their  mo- 
rality, as  a  ground  of  justification  before  God. 
But  they  were  convinced  of  sin  and  of  an  utter 
destitution  of  real  inward  purity  of  heart,  of  true 
and  living  love  to  God,  of  genuine  affection  to 
Jesus  Christ  as  '  God  manifest  in  the  flesh.'  They 
were   hence   humbled   in    the    dust    and  brought 


88  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

to    embrace    an  almighty    and    atoning    Saviour. 

"A  family  group  of  seven,  most  of  whom  had  at- 
tended the  preaching  of  one  of  our  smoothest  and 
most  polished  Unitarian  clergymen,  all  baptized 
together  and  uncommonly  happy. 

"  A  young  man  on  a  visit  from  the  city  of  New 
York,  well-informed,  gay  and  worldly,  heard  br. 
Knapp  once  or  twice,  but  disliked  him  and  de- 
spised the  work  of  God.  But  he  was  warned  in 
the  visions  of  the  night  to  prepare  to  meet  God 
in  judgment.  This  he  attempted  to  'wear  off,' 
as  he  expressed  it,  and  the  warning  was  repeated 

• 

He  saw  the  heavens  and  earth  wrapped  in  flames 
and  awoke  with  terror  and  alarm.  He  became 
thoughtful,  sought  the  conversation  of  pious 
friends,  and  prayed  for  enlightening  and  saving 
grace.  After  a  short  and  painful  struggle,  he  was 
converted,  transformed  and  blest.  I  never  saw  a 
happier  man.  He  seemed  to  overflow  with  love 
and  joy.     Heaven  beamed  from  his  countenance. 

"A  skeptic,  a  young  man  of  intelligence  and  re- 
finement, who  doubted  the  truth  of  Christianity 
and  the  existence  of  a  future  state,  opposed  liis 
wife  two  years  ago  in  seeking  the  salvation  of  her 
soul,  and  took  no  sort  of  interest,  as  he  himself 
confessed,  in  religion,  nor  even  in  the  bible  as  a 
mere  composition.  'But,'  said  he  'I  am  com- 
])]etely  turned  round,  entirely  changed  in  my  views 
and  feelings,  and  all  within  a  few  days  and  with- 
out any  external  occasion.  AVhat  then  has  done 
it.^'     He  added  'nothing  but  the  power  of  God! 


BAPTIST    CHURCHES.  89 

Nothing  but  this  can  account  for  a  revolution  so 
sudden.' 

"A  man  in  middle  life,  a  Sabbath  breaker  and  a 
lover  of  pleasure,  was  arrested,  convinced,  convert- 
ed, almost  before  he  knew  it,  as  he  said  himself.  He 
was  out  gunning  one  day  and  shot  a  pigeon  on  the 
wing.  'There,'  said  he  to  himself,  'how  quick 
that  creature  went  out  of  existence  !'  And  I  may 
go  as  suddenly  and  unexpectedly,  and  where  will 
rny  spirit  be  ?  was  the  natural  reflection.  He  gave 
his  heart  to  God  and  is  now  one  of  the  most  devo- 
ted and  happy  converts;  prays  in  his  family,  reads 
his  bible,  and  praises  God  for  his  goodness. 

"An  interesting  group  from  the  choir,  the  leading 
singers,  with  other  young  men  and  maidens,  now 
'  making  melody  to  the  Lord'  with  their  hearts  as 
well  as  lips." 

I  shall  here  add  an  account  of  several  conver- 
sions that  do  not  belong  to  this  congregation. 

A  journeyman  printer,  the  father  of  a  family, 
while  setting  the  types  for  a  piece  of  religious  po- 
etry for  a  secular  newspaper,  which  poetry  alluded 
to  the  w^orkofGod  among  the  South  Sea  Island- 
ers, was  so  affected  with  it  and  the  thought  of  his 
own  indifference,  that  he  could  not  for  a  tinie  pro- 
ceed in  his  work.  This  led  to  his  conversion.  He 
proved  his  sincerity  by  leaving  the  situation  where 
he  was  required  to  work  on  the  Sabbath. 

Another  man  visited  the  Supreme  Court  room; 
his  attention  was  directed  to  the  vibration-^  oi  the 
7* 


'90  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

pendulum  of  the  clock.  The  thought  occurred, 
"  every  vibration  is  bringing  time  to  a  close  and 
hastening  on  eternity.  Eternity!  I  am  not  pre- 
pared to  enter  eternity.  I  will  begin  this  moment 
to  prepare  for  it."  This  resulted  in  his  hopeful 
conversion. 

One  man  was  converted  by  observing  his  dog. 
After  feeding  him  one  day,  he  seemed  grateful. 
The  thought  came  over  his  mind,  "I  am  not  so 
good  as  my  dog.  He  is  grateful  to  me  for  kindness. 
But  God  has  always  fed,  clothed  and  taken  care 
of  me,  but  I  have  never  been  grateful  at  all."  This 
thought  discovered  to  him  the  wickedness  of  his 
heart.     It  brought  him  to  rei)entance. 

A  superintendent  of  one  of  our  Sabbath  schools 
went  into  the  infant  department  to  open  it.  He 
observed  a  stranger  sitting  in  the  room,  who,  after 
prayer  had  closed,  went  immediately  out.  On  tlie 
next  Sabbath  morning  he  observed  the  stranger 
present  again.  As  soon  as  the  morning  prayer 
had  been  offered,  he  came  up  and  introduced  him- 
self to  the  superintendent.  "Sir,"  said  the  stran- 
ger, "did  you  not  observe  me  the  last  Sabbath 
morning?"  "Yes."  "I  came  here  with  a  deter- 
mination to  take  my  little  boy  away  from  this 
Orthodox  school,  and  put  him  into  a  Unitarian. 
But  one  expression  in  your  prayer  went  right 
through  my  heart.  If  a  bullet  had  pierced  it  I 
should  not  have  felt  it  more  sensibly.  I  thought 
I  should  not  have  lived  until  you  closed  your 
prayer.     As  soon  as  you  had  done  I  went  out  into 


BAPTIST    CHURCHES.  91 

the  air  to  get  breath,  and  I  have  been  very  wretched 
all  the  week.  What  shall  I  do  ?"  The  superin- 
tendent directed  him  to  the  Saviour  of  sinners  and 
invited  him  to  call  upon  him  the  next  evening. 
He  came  to  his  house,  was  directed  to  the  Lamb 
of  God  that  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world,  and 
commended  to  him  in  prayer.  He  went  away 
from  the  superintendent's  house  rejoicing  in  a 
newly  found  Saviour. 

During  the  revival,  one  neighbor  met  another 
and  asked,  "What  news  this  morning?"  "Glo- 
rious news,"  was  the  reply,  "  God  sent  salvation  to 
my  house  last  night."  "  How  was  that  ?"  "  My  Son 
came  home  from  the  meeting  in  great  distress. 
I  talked  and  prayed  with  him,  and  he  prayed  ;  but 
still  he  felt  a  burden  of  sin ;  he  said  that  he  could 
not  go  to  bed  feeling  as  he  did.  I  prayed  with  him 
again  ;  still  his  distress  continued.  It  had  then  got 
to  be  midnight.  I  told  him  that  we  would  go 
down  and  see  our  minister.     We  went,  rang  the 

bell,  and   immediately   Mr. opened    the    door 

and  invited  us  to  walk  in.  Without  speaking  a 
word  he  fell  upon  his  knees  and  prayed;  called 
upon  me  to  pray  and  my  son  followed.  When  we 
arose  from  our  knees,  my  son's  burden  was  gone. 
Said  the  minister,  "  Perhaps  you  wondered  that  I 
did  not  ask  you  why  you  came  here  at  this  hour  of 
the  night;  but  I  had  no  need  to  do  it,  for  at  the 
close  of  the  meeting  I  saw  the  condition  of  your 
son,  and  had  been  praying  for  him  for  an  hour 
when  you  rang  the  bell.     I  knew  that  God   had 


92  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

sent  him  here  and  I  had  no  need  to  ask  you.     I 
know  that  God  is  a  prayer-hearing  God.' " 

A  young  lady  belonging  to  a  family  who  at- 
tended meeting  where  the  fundamental  doctrines 
of  the  gospel  are  not  preached,  became  anxious  for 
the  salvation  of  her  soul.  She  was  one  evening 
preparing  to  go  to  a  lecture,  and  her  father  said, 
"My  daughter,  you  may  go  to  the  lecture,  but  you 
must  not  stop  at  the  inquiry  meeting.  Just  as  sure 
as  you  stop  at  the  inquiry  meeting  I  shall  lock  you 
out  of  the  house  ;  this  house  shall  not  be  your 
home."  She  went  to  the  lecture  and  the  father 
sent  a  spy  to  watch  the  daughter  to  see  if  she  re- 
garded his  threats.  The  spy  returned  and  re- 
ported to  the  father  that  she  had  stopped  at  the 
inquiry  meeting.  After  the  inquiry  meeting  was 
over,  the  daughter  returned  and  found  the  door 
locked  against  her.  Slie  went  to  a  neighbor's,  who 
took  her  in.  She  retired  to  her  chamber,  but  not 
to  sleep.  The  night  was  spent  in  prayer  for  her 
ft^ther.  The  father  went  to  his  bed,  but  it  was  not 
one  of  down  but  of  thorns.  He  could  not  sleej); 
his  cruel  conduct  towards  his  daughter  led  him  to 
see  the  wickedness  of  his  lieart  and  to  cry  for 
mercy.  As  soon  as  it  was  light,  he  arose  and  went 
to  the  house  where  he  supposed  that  his  daughter 
was  gone,  rang  the  bell  and  inquired  whether  his 
daughter  was  there.  He  was  answered  in  the  af- 
firmative. He  said  that  he  wished  to  see  her  quick. 
She  came  down.  "  My  daughter,"  said  the  father, 
"  will  you  forgive  me  and  come  home  and  pray  for 


BAPTIST    CHURCHES.  93 

me  ?"  She  accompanied  him  home,  went  into  a 
room  with  her  father,  knelt  down  and  prayed,  and 
her  father  prayed.  During  these  prayers  the  heart 
of  the  father  broke.  He  became  reconciled  to  God 
and  reconciled  to  his  daughter. 

First  Free  Baptist  Church. 

"This  church  has  shared,"  says  the  associational 
letter,  in  common  with  sister  churches  in  the  city, 
in  the  extensive  and  powerful  revival  of  the  last 
winter  and  spring."  They  are  "  deeply  impressed 
with  the  goodness  of  God  for  so  kind  remem- 
brance of  his  people,  and  of  poor  perishing  souls;" 
and  while  they  say,  "  to  God  be  all  the  glory,  they 
praise  him  not  only  for  the  direct  agency  of  his 
Spirit  upon  the  hearts  of  both  saints  and  sinners, 
but  also  for  the  instrumentality  with  which  he  was 
pleased  to  favor  them  and  other  churches  in  this 
city.  While  winds  of  doctrine  are  sweeping  over 
the  land,  they  deem  it  peculiarly  necessary  that 
the  flock  of  Christ  should  be  fed  with  knowledge, 
the  doctrine  of  the  cross  plainly  stated,  and  the 
order  and  discipline  of  the  church  faithfully  urged. 
They  are  united  and  interested  in  missions  and 
kindred  eflTorta  for  the  good  of  suflTering  humanity." 

This  church  was  gathered  1839,  and  worships  in 
the  chapel  under  the  Museum.  The  number  bap- 
tized the  present  year  is  98,  and  the  whole  num- 
ber of  church  members,  309.  Rev.  N.  Colver  Pas- 
tor. 


94  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

BowDoiN  Square  Baptist  ChuAch. 

"  Tliis  church,"  says  the  minutes  of  the  Boston 
Baptist  Association,  "  coming  as  they  did,  but  two 
years  since,  from  various  churches,  and  accustomed 
to  the  instruction  of  different  ministerial  gifts,  few 
in  number  and  with  heavy  responsibilities  for  the 
erection  of  their  house  of  worship,  and  congrega- 
tion yet  to  be  gathered,  felt  themselves  peculiarly 
called  upon  for  the  exercise  of  faith,  brotherly 
kindness,  vigilance,  activity  and  prayer,  as  indis- 
pensable to  the  success  of  their  enterprise."  In 
the  exercise  of  these  graces,  though  not /or  them, 
they  have  been  blessed.  They  have  enjoyed  great 
harmony  and  a  refreshing  from  the  presence  of 
the  Lord.  The  pastor  says,  "I  found  an  improv- 
ing religious  feeling  among  my  people  throughout 
the  autumn,  which  gave  me  full  confidence  that 
the  winter  would  develope  results  of  the  most  an- 
imating character.  When  the  Rev.  Mr.  Knapj) 
began  his  labors  in  the  city,  it  appeared  to  me  that 
nothing  was  wanting  but  some  such  extra  occa- 
sion to  'give  free  course'  to  the  success  of  the  gos- 
pel among  them. 

"  ]38  have  been  added  to  this  church  by  baptism 
and  48  by  letter.  The  work  does  not  appear  to 
have  wholly  subsided,  and  we  have  less  of  the  lan- 
guor of  reaction  than  I  apprehended ;  our  devo- 
tional meetings  continue  interesting  and  the  con- 
verts walk  well.  As  to  the  instrumentality  most 
blessed,  1  have  the  impression  that  nearly  if  not 


BAPTIST    CHURCHES.  95 

quite  half,  date  their  awakening  from  the  preach- 
ing of  Mr.  Knapp,  and  he  was  the  means  of  quick- 
ening many  who  had  before  been  awakened." 
Present  number  of  the  church,  325. 

This  church  was  gathered  in  1840.  Rev.  R.  W. 
Cushman,  Pastor. 

First  Independez^t  Baptist  Church. 

This  church  was  gathered  in  1805.  It  was 
at  first  called  "African  Baptist  Church."  Rev. 
Thomas  Paul  was  for  many  years  the  worthy  and 
beloved  pastor  of  this  church.  In  1838  the  name 
of  this  church  was  changed  from  African  Baptist 
to  Independent  Baptist  Church.  In  1841,  a  division 
took  place  in  the  church.  One  part  worship  in 
the  meeting-house  and  the  other  in  a  school-house. 
Those  that  worship  in  the  meeting-house  number 
158,  of  whom  98  were  received  during  the  present 
year.  Those  that  meet  in  the  school-house  count 
109,  of  whom  26  have  been  received  during  the 
present  year.  The  whole  number  of  the  church 
is  267 — received  this  year  126.  Rev.  John  T.  Ray- 
mond, minister  at  the  meeting-house. 

I  have  now  given  a  summary  view  of  the  Bap- 
tist churches  in  this  city.  Next  to  Congregation- 
alists,  they  are  the  oldest  denomination  of  Chris- 
tians in  Boston.  Their  first  church  was  organized 
in  1665,  177  years  ago.  Since  the  commencement 
of  the  present  century  they  have  done  much 
towards   bringing   back    evangelical    religion    into 


96  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

this  city.  The  revival,  in  the  First  and  Second  Bap- 
tist churches  in  1804  and  5,  was  the  first  in  that 
series  of  revivals  wherewith  God  has  blessed  Bos- 
ton in  the  present  generation.  The  tide  of  error 
with  which  this  city  had  been  for  half  a  century 
flooded,  then  began  to  turn.  God  has  poured  out 
his  Spirit  upon  this  denomination  of  Christians, 
multiplied  their  churches  and  enlarged  their  num- 
bers. God  has  been  with  them  of  a  truth.  In 
common  with  other  denominations  who  preach  the 
doctrines  of  the  Cross,  God  has  given  them  his  seal 
of  approbation. 

The  following  is  a  statistical  view  of  the  Baptist 
churches  in  Boston. 


Received  from  Sept. 

1841  to  Sept.  1842. 

Whole  No 

First  Baptist, 

266 

72.5 

Baldwin  Place, 

187 

861 

Independent  Baptist, 

126 

•  267 

Charles  Street, 

17 

370 

Federal  Street, 

85 

476 

South  Boston, 

130 

311 

Harvard  Street, 

197 

500 

Free  Church, 

98 

326 

Bowdoin  Square, 

138 

325 

Total,  1244  4161 


EPISCOPAL    CHURCHES.  97 

CHAPTER    VII. 
EPISCOPAL   CHURCHES. 

Christ  Church— Trinity  Church— St.  Paul's  Church— St.  Mat- 
thew's Church,  South  Boston — Grace  Church — Free  Church 
of  the  Episcopal  City  Mission  Societ}'  Boston — Concluding 
remarks — Statistics. 

Christ  Church. 

This  church  is  situated  in  Salem  street.  The 
corner-stone  was  laid  with  religious  ceremonies  by 
Rev.  xMr.  .Myles,  April  22,  1723,  and  the  house  was 
dedicated  on  the  29th  of  December,  the  same  year. 

This  church  is  furnished  with  a  peal  of  bells,  and 
Js  the  only  peal  in  this  city.  It  was  customary  in 
former  times  to  chime  them  several  nights  before 
Christmas,  and  to  ring  the  old  year  out  and  the  new- 
year  in,  most  merrily  upon  them.  They  are  in- 
scribed with  the  following  mottoes  and  devices. 

1st  Bell — "This  peal  of  eight  bells  is  the  gift  of  a 
number  of  generous  persons  to  Christ  Church  in 
Boston,  N.  E.  anno,  1744,  A.  R." 

2d  Bell — '•  This  church  was  founded  in  the  year* 
1723.  Timothy  Cutler,  D.  D.,  the  first  rector  A.  R. 
1744." 

3d  Bell — "  We  are  the  first  ring  of  bells  cast  for 
the  British  Empire  in  North  America,  A.  R.  1744." 

4th  Bell — "God  preserve  the  church  of  England, 
1744." 

8 


98  BOStON    REVIVAL. 

5tli  Bell — "William  Shirley,  Esq.,  Governor  of 
the  Massachusetts  Bay,  in  New  England,  1744." 

6th  Bell — "The  subscription  of  these  bells  was 
begun  by  John  Hammond  and  Robert  Temple, 
church  Wardens,  anno,  1743 ;  completed  by  Rob- 
ert Jenkins  and  John  Gould,  church  Wardens, 
anno,  1744." 

7th  Bell—-"  Since  generosity  has  opened  our 
mouths,  our  tongues  will  ring  aloud  his  praise, 
J  744." 

8th  Bell — "Abel  Rudhall  of  Gloucester,  cast  us 
all,  anno,  1744." 

Connected  with  this  church  is  a  Sunday  school, 
commenced  in  June  1815.  The  average  attendance 
is  about  200. 

The  doctrines  of  the  Church  of  England  are  ad- 
vocated in  this  church  without  material  alteration. 

Christ  church  is  70  feet  long,  50  wide,  and  35 
high  ;  the  walls  are  two  feet  and  a  half  thick,  the 
steeple's  area  is  24  feet  square.  The  brick  tower 
is  78  feet  high ;  the  spire  is  above  97  feet ;  in  all 
175  feet.  When  the  battle  was  fought  on  Bunker 
Hill,  several  individuals  were  inside  of  this  tower  as 
spectators  of  the  scene.  Some  of  these  persons 
were  loyalists,  and  others  "  Sons  of  liberty."  Both 
parties  were  deeply  anxious  for  the  result.  Both 
wished  their  respective  friends  to  be  victorious. 
This  ancient  church  shared  in  the  reviv;».l  of  last 
winter  and  spring.  45  communicants  were  added 
to  the  church.  Its  present  number  is  220.  J. 
Woart,  Rector. 


EPISCOPAL.    CHURCHES.  99 


Trinity  Church. 

The  ninnbers  that  adhered  to  the  forms  and  doc- 
trines of  the  Episcopal  church,  greatly  increased 
after  the  introduction  of  the  Royal  Government  in 
the  colony  under  the  charter  of  1691.  The  first 
steps  taken  towards  the  erection  of  Trinity  church 
was  in  1728.  The  building  was  not  erected  and 
occupied  until  Sept.  1735.  This  stood  until  1828. 
The  Trinitarian  doctrines  have  always  been 
preached  here.  The  corner-stone  of  the  new  edi- 
fice (which  occupies  the  site  of  the  ancient  building) 
at  the  corner  of  Hawley  and  Summer  streets,  was 
laid  September  15,  1828,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gardner, 
the  rector  of  the  church,  with  appropriate  ceremo- 
nies. This  house  is  built  of  Quincy  granite.  The 
number  added  to  this  church   the  last  year  was  41. 

Communicants  350.  Rev.  Dr.  Eastman,  rector 
elect.     John  L.  Watson,  assistant  minister. 

St.  Paul's  Church. 

St.  Paul's  church  was  proposed  to  be  erected  by 
subscription,  which  was  commenced  March,  1819. 
The  corner-stone  was  laid  Sept.  4th,  with  appro- 
priate religious  ceremonies.  The  church  was  con- 
secrated June  30,  1820.  Dr.  S.  F.  Jarvis  was  in- 
stituted rector  July  7,  1820;  dismissed  Aug.  J 825. 
Rev.  Alonzo  Potter,  D.  D.,  was  settled  Aug.  29, 1826 ; 
dismissed  Aug.  27,  1831.  John  Stone,  D.  D.,  was 
instituted  rector  June  19,  1832.    Rev.  Mr.  Vinton, 


100  BOSTON    REVIVAL.. 

the  present  rector,  commenced  his  labors  in  this 
church  in  February,  1842.  Since  the  settlement  of 
the  present  pastor,  a  season  of  special  religious  in- 
terest has  been  enjoyed.  The  work  was  one  of 
great  solemnity  and  deep  feeling.  The  pastor  did 
not  hold  inquiry  meetings;  but  saw  individuals 
alone,  either  at  his  study  or  at  their  own  houses. 
He  had  full  opportunity  to  become  acquainted  with 
individual  character,  and  give  such  instruction 
as  the  varying  circumstances  of  young  converts  de- 
manded. The  season  of  the  greatest  interest  was 
during  the  months  of  April  and  May.  It  resulted 
in  the  hopeful  conversion  of  60  or  70  persons. 
The  converts  were  of  all  ages  ;  some  in  the  morn- 
ing, some  in  the  meridian,  and  others  in  the  decline 
of  life.  The  Sabbath  school  scholar  and  the  man 
of  grey  hairs  were  both  subdued  by  the  power  of 
the  cross.  It  is  hoped  that  what  the  new  pastor 
has  seen  of  the  work  of  the  Lord  since  he  came 
among  his  flock,  is  only  the  first  fruits  of  a  more 
plentiful  and  glorious  harvest  yet  to  be  reaped. 

"It  has  pleased  God,"  says  the  annual  report  to 
the  convention,  "to  pour  out  the  dew  of  his  bles- 
sing upon  this  parish;  making  fruitful,  in  a  signal 
way,  the  seed  so  amply  sown  by  its  former  most 
faithful  minister. 

"  While  there  have  been  marked  and  unusual 
demonstration  of  life,  in  tiie  awakening  of  many  to 
a  first  interest  in  religious  things,  there  has  been 
likewise,  among  elder  christians,  evidence  of  the 
settled  vigor  which  denotes  increasing  piety ;  so 


EPISCOPAL    CHURCHES.  101 

that  the  spiritual  prosperity  which  was  reported  as 
characterizing  the  state  of  this  parish  at  the  last 
convention,  does  not  seem  to  have  abated." 

Communicants  added,  49.     Whole  number,  310. 
Alexander  H.  Vinton,  Rector. 


St.  Matthew's  Church,  South  Boston. 

Tlie  services  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church 
were  celebrated  for  the  first  time  in  that  part  of  the 
town  called  South  Boston,  on  Sunday,  March  31, 
1816.  For  more  than  two  years  the  congregation 
met  in  a  school-house,  and  services  were  conducted 
by  different  clergymen  and  lay-readers.  St.  Mat- 
thew's Church  was  consecrated,  24th  of  June,  1818. 
The  expenses  of  its  erection  were  chiefly  defrayed 
by  benevolent  members  of  Trinity  and  Christ 
churches,  with  a  view  to  the  future  wants  of  that 
section  of  the  city.  Rev.  J.  L.  Blake  became  its 
rector  June,  1824,  and  continued  until  1833. 

Joseph  H.  Clinch  is  the  present  rector.  Com- 
municants: added,  7;  present  number,  44. 

The  last  report  to  the  convention  says:  "This 
parish  has  suflfered  more  than  on  any  former  year 
by  death  and  removals.  The  number  of  funerals  is 
double  of  any  previously  reported ;  while  several 
large  families  have  removed,  some  to  other  parts 
of  the  city,  and  some  to  other  towns.  The  parish 
on  the  whole,  therefore,  has  been  rather  weakened 
than  strengthened  during  the  last  conventional 
year." 

8* 


102  boston  revival. 

Grace  Church. 

This  church  was  consecrated  June  14,  1836. 
Rev.  Thomas  M.  Clarke  was  at  this  time  instituted 
rector.  At  that  time  the  communicants  were  40;' 
in  1837,  100  reported;  in  1838,  150;  in  1839,  190; 
in  1840,  272;  in  1841,  311:  in  1842,  337.  The 
number  received  last  year  was  46.  The  whole 
ij umber  added  b}'  confirmation  since  the  church 
was  organized  is  257.  In  the  year  1840,  70  were 
confirmed.  A  more  decided  interest  was  mani- 
fested during  that  year,  than  at  any  other  period. 
The  increase  has  been  stated  and  regular.  At  no 
season  has  there  been  any  peculiar  attention  to  re- 
ligion. The  church  is  almost  entirely  composed  of 
young  persons.  Ten  young  men  that  are  already 
in  the  ministry,  or  preparing  to  enter  it,  have  been 
connected  with  the  communion  of  this  church. 

The  services  in  addition  to  those  of  the  Lord's 
day,  are  a  weekly  lecture,  a  monthly  meeting  of  the 
communicants  preparatory  to  the  communion,  a 
monthly  missionary  meeting,  and  a  series  of  public 
services  during  the  season  of  Lent.  These  latter 
services  have  been  much  blessed. 

This  church  manifests  a  laudable  benevolence. 
They  contributed  for  the  various  purposes  of  re- 
ligious charities  last  year  $1360.  In  addition  to 
this,  eleven  hundred  dollars  have  been  subscribed 
towards  the  erection  of  a  free  mission  chapel. 

A  number  of  the  young  people  of  the  parish  have 
recently  organized  a  branch  Sunday  school,  which 


EPISCOPAL    CHURCHES.  103 

is  held  in  the  Bedford  street  chapel,  where,  twelve 
years  since,  the  congregation  of  Grace  church  as- 
sembled for  worship. 

The  result  of  our  efforts  to  interest  those  con- 
nected with  the  Sunday  school  in  missionary  ope- 
rations, is  truly  gratifying.  Through  the  weekly 
contributions  of  the  teachers  and  scholars,  we  now 
support  fifteen  children  in  the  mission  schools  at 
Cape  Palmas,  at  an  expense  of  three  hundred  dol- 
lars yearly. 

Free    Church  of  the  Episcopal  City  Mission 

Society. 

The  regular  services  of  the  church  have  been 
held  three  times  on  each  Sunday.  An  interesting 
Bible  class  of  adults  is  connected  with  the  Sunday 
school;  and  a  meeting  of  the  teachers  has  been 
kept  up  with  spirit,  beside  a  weekly  meeting  of  a 
more  general  character.  An  important  part  of  the 
missionary's  labor  is  in  visiting;  in  which  much 
assistance  has  been  rendered,  the  last  winter,  by  a 
circle  of  ladies  from  St.  Paul's  church.  A  sewing 
school,  interesting  and  useful,  has  been  kept  in 
connection  with  the  mission,  by  a  number  of  ladies. 
The  services  of  morning  and  afternoon  are  uni- 
formly well  attended  ;  the  number  of  persons  aver- 
aging from  150  to  200. 

We  have  cause  of  thankfulness  in  the  knowledge 
that  good,  much  good  has  been  done  by  the  mis- 
sion, but  have  still  to  lament  that  no  more  ample, 


104  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

convenient,  or  inviting  accommodations  and  facili- 
ties have  yet  been,  or  are  likely  soon  to  be,  provi- 
ded for  carrvinof  on  this  labor  of  love.  We  are  in- 
vited  to  occupy  a  field  of  extended  usefulness,  long 
white  to  harvest.  But  the  means  are  not  applied. 
Communicants  added,  9:  whole  number,  75. 
Samuel  McBurney,  minister. 

God  has  not  withheld  his  blessing  from  the  Epis- 
copal churches  in  this  city.  While  this  church 
strictly  adheres  to  the  39  articles  in  faith  and  prac- 
tice, she  cannot  fail  to  secure  the  blessing  of  God. 
These  articles  embody  the  doctrines  of  tlie  Refor- 
mation, those  doctrines  that  have,  in  every  age, 
been  the  life-blood  of  the  church.  At  the  era  of  the 
Reformation  many  of  her  members  sealed  these 
truths  with  their  blood.  Let  this  ancient  church 
cleave  fast  to  these  doctrines  and  she  will  not  die, 
but  live.  Not  merely  live,  but  live  full  of  animating 
hope  and  strong  faith. 

Statistics  of  the  Episcopal  churches  of  Boston. 


Received  in  1842, 

Whole  No. 

Christ  Church, 

53 

220 

Trinity  Church, 

41 

850 

St.  Matthew's, 

7 

44 

St.  Paul's, 

49 

310 

Grace  Church, 

46 

337 

Free  Clnu'ch, 

9 

75 

Total,  205  1336 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCHES.  105 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCHES. 

North  Bennett  street  Chnrch — Bromfield  street  Church — South 

Boston  Church. 

*  North  Bennett  Street  Church. 

In  1784,  Rev.  William  Black,  a  Methodist  minis- 
ter from  England,  preached  at  the  Sandaminian 
meeting-house  in  Middle  street.  After  laboring 
here  more  than  three  months,  he  returned  to  Hali- 
fax, Nova  Scotia.  During  the  next  five  years  no 
preacher  of  this  denomination  appeared  in  Boston. 

In  1790,  Rev.  Jesse  Lee  visited  Boston,  and 
preached  under  the  great  tree  on  the  common. 
Dr.  Bangs,  in  his  history  of  Methodism  says, 
"  when  he  commenced,  there  were  only  four  per- 
sons present ;  but  before  he  concluded,  there  had 
collected,  as  he  thought,  not  less  than  three  thou- 
sand. The  word  preached  had  an  effect  upon  the 
minds  of  a  few  who  attended,  so  that  on  the   next 

*  For  the  facts  that  relate  to  the  early  introduction  of  IMelh- 
odism  to  Boston,  I  am  mostly  indebted  to  the  report  of  a 
committee  appointed  in  the  year  1800,  by  the  Trustees  of  the 
3Iethodisi  church,  "  to  collect  from  the  best  information  they 
could  obtain,  a  concise  history  of  the  gathering  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  in  Boston,  with  the  various  circumstan- 
ces incident  thereto." 


106  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

Sabbath,  at  the  same  place,  the  number  of  hearers 
was  greatly  increased  ;  and  the  way  was  open  for 
the  establishment  of  a  small  society  in  Boston.  It 
is  an  evidence,  however,  of  the  determined  opposi- 
tion that  was  felt  to  Methodism,  that  Mr.  Lee  was 
in  the  city  about  a  week,  using  every  means  in  his 
power  to  procure  a  house  to  preach  in,  but  was  de- 
nied in  every  instance  in  which  he  made  application 
either  publicly  or  privately,  and  finally  was  forced 
to  abandon  the  place  without  preaching  at  all,  or 
to  go  on  to  the  Common.  Here,  therefore,  he  set 
lip  his  banner  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  many 
have  since,  though  not  without  much  hard  toil  and 
many  privations,  flocked  around  it." 

He  then  passed  on  to  Lynn,  and  labored,  occa- 
sionally returning  and  holding  meetings  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  Samuel  Burrell,  until  1792.  After 
this  they  held  meetingsfora  time  at  a  school-house, 
until  it  was  demolished  by  the  authority  of  the 
town. 

The  first  society  was  formed  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Samuel  Burrell's,  Aug.  1792,  consisting  of  twelve 
members.  They  found  a  very  great  difiiculty  in 
obtaining  a  place  to  hold  their  meetings.  They  at 
length  resolved  to  build  a  meeting-house.  "  To  aid 
them  in  their  pious  design,  money  was  begged  for 
them  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  in  the  state 
of  Delaware,  Philadeli)hia,  and  New  York." 

By  the  aid  thus  afforded,  they  were  encouraged 
to  proceed  in  their  labors  ;  and  on  the  28th  of  Aug. 
1795,  the  corner-stone  of  the  first  Methodist  meet- 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHtTRCHES.  107 

iilg-house  was  laid  in  Boston.  It  was  a  wooden 
building,  46  by  36.  At  that  time  the  church  con- 
tained 42  members. 

This  house  was  situated  on  Methodist  Alley,  so 
called,  North  Boston.  It  was  occupied  by  the  First 
church  until  1828.  In  that  year  a  new  chapel  was 
built  in  North  Bennett  street.  At  the  laying  of  the 
corner-stone  of  the  new  house,  the  floor  gave  way 
and  200  persons  were  precipitated  into  the  cellar. 
A  considerable  number  of  persons  were  very  se- 
riously injured.  Between  1790  and  1800  the  fol- 
lowing ministers  were  stationed  here,  viz  :  Jesse 
Lee,  Daniel  Smith,  Jeremiah  Cosden,  Amos  G. 
Thomson,  Christopher  Sprague,  Evan  Rogers,  John 
Harper,  Joshua  Hale,  George  Pickering,  EliasHull, 
Daniel  Ortander,  William  Beauchamp,  Joshua 
Wells,  and  'J'homas  F.  Sargent. 

During  the  last  fall,  winter  and  spring,  this  church 
was  visited  with  a  powerful  work  of  grace. 

It  appears  from  the  records  of  this  church,  that 
530  were  received  on  probation  last  year.* 

The  work  commenced  the  first  of  October.  It 
was  for  a  considerable  length  of  time  one  of  great 
power.     Some  have  supposed  that  as  many  as  eight 

*  For  the  information  of  those  who  are  not  acquainted  with 
usages  of  Methodist  churches,  I  would  say,  that  they  at  first 
receive  persons  on  six  months'  probation.  If  at  the  close  of 
that  period  they  are  found  worthy,  they  are  received  into  full 
communion.  The  increase  of  this  denomination  is  the  number 
received  on  probation.  How  many  have  been  received  into 
full  communion;  I  do  not  know. 


108  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

liundred  were  converted.  It  is  impossible  to  obtaitt 
the  precise  numbers.  Amidst  the  throngs  who 
came  forward  from  night  to  night  for  prayers,  and 
professed  to  be  converted,  many  were  strangers 
who  have  gone  to  other  congregations.  An  indi- 
vidual who  was  engaged  in  the  work  says,  "  there 
was  a  large  number  of  busbands  converted,  whose 
wives  were  professors  before.  A  large  number  of 
seamen,  several  of  whom  were  captains  and  mates 
of  vessels,  were  interested  in  this  great  salvation. 
Many  intemperate  persons  were  sharers  in  this 
work." 

The  instrumentalities  were  such  as  are  common 
in  the  denomination. 

Tiiis  church  is  the  mother  of  all  the  other 
churches  in  the  city.  She  is  a  fruitful  vine,  that 
has  from  time  to  time  sent  out  her  branches.  She 
has  sent  out  her  children  to  aid  in  planting  young 
churches.  While  she  lias  watered  others,  she  has 
been  liberally  watered  of  God.  She  has  scattered 
and  yet  increased  more  and  more. 

Present  number,  86G. 

Bromfield  Street  Church. 

In  the  year  1806,  the  Methodist  society  on  the  od 
of  March,  "resolved  that  it  was  expedient  to  build 
another  chapel  for  the  worship  of  Almighty  God." 
On  the  ]5th  of  April,  the  corner-stone  of  Bromfield 
street  was  laid  by  Rev.  Peter  Jayne,  and  it  was 
completed  and  dedicated  on  the  9th  of  November 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCHES.  109 

following.  Rev.  Samuel  Mervin  preached  on  the 
occasion.  In  the  wall  is  a  block  of  the  stone  on 
which  our  forefathers  landed  at  Plymouth. 

"  The  earliest  revival  developments  in  my  congre- 
gation, was,  I  think,"  says  the  pastor,  "  in  the  latter 
part  of  Aug.  or  first  of  Sept.  J841,  immediately  suc- 
ceeding the  camp-meeting  at  Eastham.  I  recognize, 
with  many  others,  in  that  meeting  the  primary  instru- 
mentality, under  God,  of  the  glorious  work  of  grace 
in  all  the  Methodist  churches  in  this  city.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Maffit  spent  a  few  weeks  with  us  between  Sept. 
and  Nov.,  and  a  few  I  believe,  date  their  first  re- 
ligious impressions  from  his  labors.  The  revival 
with  us  was  gradual,  there  being  seldom  more  than 
20  or  30  inquirers  at  any  one  time.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Greenhalge,  of  Maine,  spent  two  or  three  weeks 
with  us  in  January,  1842,  to  very  considerable 
profit,  especially  to  the  church.  We  had  occasional 
assistance  from  other  clerical  brethren.  As  to  the 
doctrines  preached,  which  appeared  most  eflTectual  in 
promoting  the  revival,  that  of  the  direct  ivitness  of 
the  Spirit — and  of  entire  sanctijication,  or  salvation 
from  all  sin  in  this  life,  together  with  the  Spirit's 
witness  to  the  fact  of  such  salvation,  were  recog- 
nized as  having  exerted  a  most  salutary  influence. 
The  repeated  administration  of  baptism  in  the 
house  of  God,  was  also,  I  think,  with  the  divine  bles- 
sing, made  to  subserve  the  gracious  work.  It  should 
be  recorded,  to  the  praise  of  God,  that  several  mem- 
bers of  the  church  (male  and  female)  who  gave  sat- 
isfactory evidence,  in  their  lives,  of  enjoying  the 
9 


110  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

blessing  of  entire  sanctification,  were  among  the 
most  efficient  instruments  in  promoting  the  revival. 

"As  to  the  number  of  conversions  resulting  from 
the  labors  of  this  church,  an  approximation  to  ac- 
curacy is  all  that  should  be  attempted.  I  think  it 
may  be  safely  stated  at  200.  About  350  were  re- 
ceived into  the  classes  as  probationers  for  church 
membership. 

"The  revival  was  especially  interesting  in  the  Sab- 
bath school.  A  large  number  of  the  scholars,  it  is 
believed,  were  made  the  subjects  of  renewing  grace. 
The  steadfastness  and  improvement  of  the  converts 
has  been  in  general  highly  gratifying,  especially  as 
respects  those  received  into  the  classes  as  proba- 
tioners, very  few  cases  of  defection  having  trans- 
pired. 

"  As  to  the  })resent  state  of  the  church,  1  am  happy 
to  say  it  is  such  as  to  call  for  devout  gratitude. 
Though  the  revival  influence  (particularly  among 
the  unconverted)  has  somewhat  abated,  u'e  have  de- 
lightful evidence,  almost  constantlv,  that  it  has  not 
been  utterly  withdrawn.  We  think  our  prospect 
for  a  general  revival  the  ensuing  winter  is  highly 
encouraging.  '  The  Lord  of  Hosts  is  ivith  us,  the 
God  of  Jacob  is  our  refuge.''  To  Him  belongs  all 
THE  glory.     Blessed  be  His  Holy  Name." 

150  received  on  probation.     J.  B.  Ilusted,  Pastor. 

South  Boston. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  South  Bos- 
ton, originated   in  the  summer  of  1834,  under  the 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCHES.  Ill 

labors  of  Rev.  Abel  Stevens,  then  ])astor  of  the 
Methodist  congregation  in  Church  street.  He  com- 
menced occasional  preaching  in  a  private  room, 
which  had  been  procured  b}'  a  few  pious  individuals 
for  the  purpose  of  holding  a  public  prayer  meeting. 
The  numbers  attracted  by  the  interesting  and  elo- 
quent address  of  Mr.  Stevens,  soon  rendered  it 
necessary  to  seek  a  more  ample  place  of  worship. 
"Harding's  Hall,"  corner  of  Fourth  and  Turnpike 
streets,  was  procured  for  their  use,  which  they  en- 
tered Oct.  30,  1834.  About  this  time  the  first  reli- 
gious class  was  formed  by  Mr.  Stevens,  consisting  of 
16  members,  as  a  branch  of  the  Methodist  society 
in  Church  street.  May  7th,  1836,  they  removed  to 
Franklin  Hall  with  17  members,  and  left  it  June, 
1840,  with  103.  Previous  to  the  reception  of  their 
first  regular  pastor,  1836,  they  derived  much  aid 
from  that  useful  class  of  men  styled  in  the  Metho- 
dist denomination,  "Local  ministers." 

The  pastor  gives  the  following  account  respect- 
ing the  late  revival. 

"  In  answer  to  your  inquiries,  permit  me  to  say,  1 
took  charge  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in 
South  Boston,  in  Aug.  1841.  I  found  a  church  of 
110  members,  generally  young,  enterprising  and 
enjoying  a  good  degree  of  piety.  During  the  fall, 
we  had  some  symptoms  of  a  revival,  a  few  cases  of 
penitence,  the  return  of  a  few  backsliders,  and  a 
few  conversions.  During  the  month  of  December, 
the  number  increased ;  and  after  the  first  of  January 
we  were  ready  to  term  it  a  revival.    The  spirit  of 


112  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

revival,  and  the  number  of  penitents  continued  to 
increase  for  a  time,  and  then  to  subside  ;  again  the 
flame  revived,  and  finally  subsided  in  the  month  of 
April.  As  the  result  of  those  gentle  showers  of  re- 
freshing, 76  were  added  to  the  church,  of  whom 
about  50  had  professed  conversion.  20  had  been 
reclaimed,  and  the  remainder,  though  not  wholly 
destitute  of  religious  enjoyment,  had  been  revived 
and  gathered  in.  Such  is  a  brief  history  of  the 
work  of  God  among  us  during  the  past  winter. 
But  to  confine  myself  more  specifically  to  the  ques- 
tions proposed.  I  could  say,  it  is  diflScult  fixing  the 
time  when  our  revival  commenced.  Its  beginning 
and  progress  were  emphatically  gradual. 

"  It  was  commenced  and  carried  forward  by  the 
Spirit  of  God,  given  in  answer  to  prayer.  No  ex- 
traordinary instrumentalities  or  eflforts  were  used. 
A  few  refer  their  awakening  to  particular  discour- 
ses delivered  in  our  own  place  of  worship ;  a  few 
others,  to  the  preaching  of  the  distinguished  revival- 
ists then  laboring  in  the  city ;  but  the  attention  of 
most  was  called  up  by  the  silent  operations  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  A  gradual  work  of  grace  is  rarely  at- 
tended with  remarkable  incidents.  It  is  only  when 
the  tide  of  excitement  runs  high,  and  the  feelings 
and  passions  are  up  to  an  unwonted  pitch,  that  we 
witness  striking  cases  of  awakening  and  conver- 
sion. As  such  a  state  of  feeling  did  not  exist 
among  us,  we  are  necessarily  destitute  of  its  usual 
fruits.  Two  cases,  however,  I  might  notice  for  the 
encouragement  of  the  desponding.  The  one  was  that 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCHES.  113 

of  a  young  lady  who  was  the  first  to  present  herself 
as  a  subject  of  prayer.  She  manifested  the  utmost 
sincerity,  and  no  small  degree  of  earnestness;  but 
her  efforts  seemed  wholly  unavailing.  Others  who 
commenced  seeking  the  Lord  long  after  she  did, 
were  converted  on  her  right  hand  and  left,  and 
went  from  the  altar  of  prayer  rejoicing  in  the  God 
of  their  salvation,  while  she  was  still  held  in  the 
strong  bands  of  unbelief.  Sometimes  through  dis- 
couragement, she  would  refuse  to  present  herself 
among  the  penitent;  but  generally  she  persevered 
steadfastly  in  the  use  of  the  means,  neglecting  no 
opportunity  of  placing  herself  'by  the  wayside.' 
At  length,  after  having  sought  the  Saviour  sorrow- 
ing for  the  space  of  six  mouths,  and  presented  her- 
self at  the  altar  of  prayer  more  than  a  score  of 
times,  she  obtained  a  very  clear  evidence  of  pardon. 
Another  case  is  that  of  a  young  man  who  com- 
menced seeking  religion  with  little  of  what  is  usual- 
ly termed  conviction.  He  acted  from  the  cool  and 
sober  dictates  of  judgment.  The  first  manifestation 
of  the  divine  favor  to  his  mind  was  like  the  faint 
gleaming  of  the  early  dawn.  Possessed  of  a  spec- 
ulative turn  of  mind,  he  was  disposed  to  philoso- 
phize on  every  slight  change  of  feeling,  and  if  pos- 
sible, account  for  it  on  natural  principles.  Hence, 
for  months  after  he  received  the  first  slight  tokens 
of  a  Saviour's  love,  he  walked  in  darkness  and 
doubt.  He  was  unwilling  to  give  up  his  hope,  yet 
he  feared  to  reckon  himself  in  the  number  of 
christians.  He  is  now  one  of  the  most  decided, 
9* 


114  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

persevering  and  useful  young  men  in  the  church. 
His  evidence  of  conversion  is  clear  and  undoubted. 
To  him  the  '  path  of  the  just'  has  been  emphatical- 
ly 'as  the  shining  light  that  shineth  more  and 
more.'     Such    cases   are    full   of   encouragement. 

"The  cessation  of  the  work  of  revival  among  us 
must  be  traced  to  a  number  of  causes.  One  of 
these  was,  in  my  judgment,  the  substituting  in 
many  cases,  of  public  labors  for  private  duties. 
Brethren  who  are  engaged  from  day  to  day,  and 
from  evening  to  evening,  in  exhorting  sinners 
to  repent,  and  in  praying  for,  and  comfort- 
the  penitent,  are  very  liable  to  excuse  themselves 
from  the  duties  of  self  examination,  and  family  and 
private  prayer.  They  thus  lose  their  spirituality, 
and  consequently  their  energy  and  efficiency. 
Those  who  were  chiefly  instrumental  in  commenc- 
ing the  revival,  partially  backslided  during  its  pro- 
gress. Having  with  a  giant's  strength  put  the  car 
in  motion,  they  leap  on,  and  it  ceases  to  move. 
Another  hindrance  among  us  was  an  unwillingness 
on  the  part  of  the  church  to  make  the  necessary 
sacrifice  of  time  and  effort,  without  which  the 
work  of  revival  cannot  be  carried  forward. 

"  But  the  great  cause  of  a  cessation  of  the  work 
was  the  usual  one — unbelief.  It  has  been  found  by 
universal  experience,  that  just  in  proportion  as  this 
prevails,  the  sinews  of  moral  effort  are  severed. 
Let  doubt  and  unbelief  take  the  place  of  faith,  and 
the  Spirit  is  gone,  courage  is  gone ;  men  beat  the 
air,  or   sit  down   in   indifference,   and   the   work 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL.    CHURCHES.  115 

ceases.  Let  the  idea  prevail  through  the  church 
that  after  a  few  weeks  or  months  the  work  is  to 
cease,  and  they  will  talk  about  its  stopping,  make 
their  arrangements  accordingly,  and  retire  from  the 
field.     The  cause  is  fully  adequate  to   the  effect. 

"x\ll  the  opposition  in  the  world  could  not  have 
stopped  the  progress  of  the  work,  had  faith,  the 
soul  of  moral  action,  been  kept  in  lively  exercise ; 
and  all  the  angels  in  heaven  cannot  carry  it  for- 
ward while  bound  by  the  strong  cords  of  unbelief. 

"May  the  time  soon  come,  when  the  church  shall 
be  properly  instructed  on  this  subject.  When  she 
shall  feel  no  more  the  chills  of  spiritual  winter ; 
when  revivals  shall  no  longer  be  like  the  periodi- 
cal freshets  of  autumn  or  spring  time ;  but  when 
that  faith,  at  whose  bidding  the  little  cloud  spread 
out '  o'er  all  the  sky,  and  watered  the  thirsty  hills 
of  Judea,'  shall  command  the  ceaseless  showers  of 
refreshing,  and  spread  over  the  whole  moral  vine- 
yard the  bloom  and  beauty  of  perpetual  summer, 
causing  it  to  flourish  as  the  garden  of  the  Lord." 

The  church  contains  200  members;  76  received 
the  present  year.     J.  A.  Savage,  Pastor. 


116  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Church  street— North  Russell  street— Fifth  M.  E.  Church— 
Ocleon — East  Boston — Way  street  Church — Conclusion  of 
M.  E.  Churches. 

Church  Street. 

This  society  purchased  the  house  formerly  oc- 
cupied by  the  Grace  Church  society.  The  open- 
ing services  were  performed  by  the  Rev.  A.  Ste- 
vens, on  the  4th  of  July,  1834.  The  house  is 
pleasantly  situated  in  Piedmont  square,  built  of 
brick,  with  portico  in  front,  with  cupola  and  bell. 
There  are  113  pews  on  the  lower  floor.  The  revi- 
val commenced  the  latter  part  of  1841.  It  was  one 
of  great  interest  and  power.  It  was  carried  for- 
ward by  the  prayers  and  efforts  of  the  church  with- 
out any  foreign  aid.  The  efforts  of  some  private 
brethren  were  remarkably  blessed.  125  persons 
were  received  on  probation.  The  church  numbers 
*  320  members. 

North  Russell  Street  M.  E.  Church. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Chiu'ch  in  North  Rus- 
sell street,  was  gathered  in  1837,  under  the  pastoral 
care  of  Rev.  Moses  L.  Scudder,  and  consisted  of 
about  60  members.  The  first  public  meeting  on 
the  Sabbath,  was  held  at  the  Wells  school-house 
in  Blossom  street.     The  chapel  in   North  Russell 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL.    CHURCHES.  .117 

Street  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God  in 
1838  by  a  prayer  meeting.  Several  ministers  en- 
gaged in  prayer  and  offered  voUintary  remarks, 
without  any  formal  discourse.  The  first  sermon 
was  preached  in  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  by 
Rev.  C.  K.  True.  A  protracted  meeting  ensued,  in 
which  a  number  of  persons  embraced  religion. 

During  the  last  sixteen  months,  scarcely  a  Sab- 
bath has  passed  without  witnessing  at  the  altar 
some  contrite  souls  seeking  salvation. 

The  camp  meeting  held  a  year  ago  last  summer 
at  Eastham  and  East  Kingston,  threw  a  refreshing 
influence  over  the  church,  and  a  happy  impulse 
was  given  to  the  work  through  the  labors  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Thvving  from  Maine,  who  visited  the  city  in 
January  and  subsequently  preached  every  evening 
for  a  fortnight.  Meetings  of  various  kinds  were 
held  every  evening  in  the  week  besides  the  Sab- 
bath, until  late  in  the  spring.  Five  o'clock  meet- 
ings were  held  in  the  morning  during  a  part  of 
the  season,  at  which,  from  time  to  time,  the  stationed 
minister.  Rev.  C.  K.  True,  preached  a  short  sermon. 

Nothing  appeared  to  cause  the  abatement  of  the 
interest  of  the  work  so  much  as  the  coming  on  of 
the  summer  season,  with  its  relaxing  weather,  long 
days  and  short  evenings,  and  fatiguing  business. 
150  persons  were  received  on  probation  into  the 
church,  the  greater  part  of  whom  have  proved  wor- 
thy of  christian  fellowship.  More  than  half  as 
many  more  professed  to  be  converted  at  our  altars, 
who  have  (it  is  supposed)  joined  other  evangelical 
churches  with  which  they  have  been  associated. 


118  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

We  are  indebted  to  the  general  influence  of  the 
labors  of  distinguished  evangelists  who  preached 
in  the  city,  and  especially  Mr.  Knapp. 

The  doctrines  preached  upon  the  most,  were 
justification  and  sanctification  through  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  and  the  witness  of  the  Spirit.  C.  K. 
True,  Pastor. 

Fifth  M.  E.  Church. 

This  church  originated  in  connection  with  the 
appointment  of  Rev.  Jacob  Sanborn  of  the  New 
England  Conference,  as  city  missionary.  His  la- 
bors commenced  July,  1841.  After  a  few  months, 
it  was  deemed  advisable  to  secure  a  place  of  wor- 
ship where  the  missionary  could  labor  statedly  on 
the  Sabbath. 

To  sustain  this  mean  of  grace,  a  small  company 
of  brethren  and  sisters  from  adjacent  churches^ 
volunteered  to  forego  the  privileges  of  their  seve- 
ral places  of  worship,  and  united  together  under 
the  pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  Jacob  Sanborn.  They 
numbered  in  all  42  persons,  worshipping  in  a  hall 
on  Merrimack  street. 

During  the  winter  following  their  organization, 
they  enjoyed  a  good  degree  of  revival,  and  15  souls 
at  least,  professed  to  experience  the  pardoning 
love  of  God.  Their  number  increased  slowly,  so 
that  by  the  session  of  the  conference  ensuing,  in 
July,  1842,  the  nuniber  reported  was  65,  including: 
30  probationers. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCHES.  119 

At  the  conference  then  held,  the  writer  of  this 
narrative  was  appointed  to  the  pastoral  charge  of 
the  society.  The  congregation  was  less  than  a 
hundred  for  a  few  Sabbaths.  A  good  state  of 
things  spiritually  prevailed  however,  and  was  soon 
developed  in  the  awakening  and  conversion  of 
souls  who  were  added  to  the  church.  The  con- 
gregation was  enlarged,  and  now  fills  the  hall, 
which  will  accommodate  perhaps  250  persons. 
The  church  during  the  fiv^  months  since  the  last 
conference  has  increased  so  that  it  now  numbers 
69  in  full  membership,  and  beside  these,  23  on  pro- 
bation. Being  an  increase  in  that  time  of  one 
half  its  number.  Many  of  tliese  were  added  from 
other  churchecs  by  letter  or  certificates  of  member- 
ship. 

There  have  been  during  the  last  five  months  10 
persons  who  profess  to  have  been  justified  by  faith 
in  Christ.  Most  of  these  have  become  united  to 
the  church  as  probationers. 

Not  being  an  observer  during  the  last  winter,  I 
cannot  state  the  particulars  pertaining  to  the  revi- 
val, nor  give  any  interesting  incidents  that  occurred. 
There  is  one  fact,  however,  that  augurs  well  for  the 
genuine  character  of  the  work  and  the  careful  su- 
pervision of  the  previous  })astor  of  this  society. 
Of  the  30  probationers  left  on  the  records,  but  two 
have  been  discontinued  as  unworthy  of  christian 
confidence.  The  others  retain  their  probationary 
relation  or  have  been  received  in  full  membership. 

We  have  now  in  progress  of  building,  a  house 


120  BOSTON    RKVIVAtr. 

of  worship  on  Richmond  street,  between  Salem 
and  Hanover  streets,  which  we  expect  to  occupy 
early  in  the  spring,  perhaps  before.  It  is  designed 
to  seat  from  G  to  700  persons,  and  will  be  a  mod- 
est, plain,  wooden  fabric,  not  exceeding  $5000  for 
its  erection. 

The  present  condition  of  this  church  is  good, 
its  future  prospects  flattering;  and  an  earnest  de- 
sire is  evident  on  the  part  of  its  members  to  be  de- 
votedly pious,  , 

4 

"  Little  and  unknown, 

Loved  and  prized  by  God  alone." 

Lucius  C.  Matlack,  Pastor. 


Sixth  M.  E.  Church,  Odeon. 

The  society  that  now  occupies  the  Odeon  com- 
menced worship  there  on  the  second  Sabbath  in 
January,  1842.  Rev.  A.  Stevens  was  the  first  min- 
ister. The  church  was  gathered  in  February,  con- 
sisting of  60  members.  These  members  were 
gathered  from  the  several  Methodist  churches  in 
the  city.  During  the  winter  and  spring,  this  infant 
church  was  blessed  with  a  time  of  refreshing  from 
the  presence  of  the  Lord.  It  has  resulted  in  the 
ingathering  of  60  to  the  church. 

Rev.  B.  F.  Teft  is  the  present  minister.  Since 
he  has  taken  charge  of  this  station  there  have  been 
12  or  15  cases  of  hopeful  conversion.  The  present 
prospects  of  this  young  sister  in   Zion  are  highly 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCHES.  121 

encouraging.  We  sincerely  hope  that  this  house, 
which  was  for  many  years  devoted  to  destrovincr 
the  souls  of  men,  will  be  the  place  where  multi- 
tudes will  be  saved. 

While  occupied  as  a  theatre,  this  house  was  un- 
doubtedly the  highway  of  great  numbers  to  ruin. 
We  hope  that  it  will  be  yet  recorded  of  thousands, 
that  they  were  here  born  into  the  kingdom  of 
Christ. 

East  Boston. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  this  place, 
was  considered  a  branch  of  the  Bennett  street 
church,  till  July,  184'2,  when  it  was  recognized  by 
the  conference  as  a  distinct  station.  Forsix  months 
anterior  to  the  session  of  the  conference,  in  July, 
1842,  they  were  favored  with  the  labors  of  Rev. 
John  W.  Merrill,  late  president  of  Makendice  col- 
legCi  His  labors  in  this  place  were  instrumental 
of  much  good,  and  a  number  were  led  to  seek  and 
obtain  "  salvation  by  grace  through  faith  in  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ."  We  have  hitherto  worshipped 
in  the  city  Ward  room,  but  are  now  erecting  a 
house  of  worship,  which,  though  not  large,  will  be 
sufficiently  commodious,  considering  the  youth  of 
the  society  and  the  population  of  the  place.  There 
is  but  one  church  in  the  place  which  we  can  recog- 
nize as  evangelical,  (Rev.  Mr.  Phelps's)  with  which 
we  cordially  unite  in  all,  essential  points,  and  cheer- 
fully labor  with  them,  not  so  much  to  extend  the 
influence  and  augment  the  interests  of  the  cJiurch 
10 


V22  BOSTOW    REVIVAJ.. 

of  our  choice,  as  to  j)roinote  the  caiise  of  genuine 
])iety,  and  be  instrmnental  of  rescninjr  souls  from 
spiritual  death  and  an  eternal  liell.  The  doctrine 
preached  to  the  linpardoned  and  unsanctified  soul 
is,  that  salvation  is  possible  ;  but  it  can  only  be  se- 
cured by  looking  through  the  use  of  the  means  to 
Christ,  the  meritorious  and  procuring  cause  of  sal- 
vation,— teaching  that  we  are  not  blest  because  we 
pray,  because  we  speak,  or  because  we  believe,  but 
because  Christ  died.  We  believe  the  salvation  of 
the  gospel  to  be  pre-eminently  a  salvation  by  faith, 
obtained  by  faith,  retained  by  faith, — a  faith  v/hich 
is  the  only  source  of  "good  works;"  a  faith  which 
works  by  love  and  purifies  the  heart; — we  are  jus- 
tified b:j  faith  onhj^  and  our  justification  originates 
solely  in  tlie  grace  of  God. 

I  have  deemed  it  just  to  make  these  remarks,  for 
two  reasons.  1.  Because  our  church  in  ihis  part 
of  the  city  is  in  its  infant  stages;  2.  To  disabuse 
the  ufmds  of  those  who  have  erred  in  their  views 
concerning  us,  in  consequence  of  certain  misrepre- 
sentations, identifying  oiu'  doctrines,  in  some  de- 
gree, with  the  errors  of  Pelagius;  whereas  we  have 
no  fellowship  whatever  with  Pelagian,  or  semi-Pela- 
gian errors. 

Some  interestinff  cases  of  the  conversion  of  indi- 
viduals  who  were  looking  for  salvation  through  the 
(sui)posed)  unconditionulity  of  the  gospel  might  be 
narrated,  who  now  ieel  that  the  heart  nuist  be 
changed  by  the  efticient  agency  of  the  Holy  Spuit 
of  God.     We  rejoice   in    the  conversion  of  souls? 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCHES.  J  23 

through  whatsoever  instrumentalities,  and  pray  God 
to  hasten  the  day  of  millennial  glory. 

Present  number  of  trie  church,  GO.     Daniel  Rich- 
ards, Pastor. 

May  Street  Church. 

This  is  a  colored  church.  It  was  gathered  in 
1818  with  23  members.  In  1836  it  was  visited 
with  a  special  revival  of  religion.  During  the  last 
winter,  the  Lord,  who  is  no  respecter  of  persons, 
visited  this  colored  church  equally  with  the  white. 
The  revival  began  in  January.  "  The  instrumen- 
talities used,"  says  the  pastor,  "were  short  preach- 
ing and  prayer  meetings.  After  preaching,  invi- 
ting the  mourners  to  the  altar,  urging  them  to  give 
all  up  and  believe  on  Christ.  During  the  revival 
two  great  fiddlers  were,  converted,  and  one  of  them 
burnt  his  fiddle.  Several  seamen  found  peace  with 
God.  The  work  has  subsided  in  a  great  measure. 
The  ap|)arent  cau.<es  were  different  winds  of  doc- 
trines; such  as  the  second  coming  of  Christ  in 
1843.  It  divided  the  minds  of  the  people.  In- 
stead of  attending  to  present  duty,  the  attention 
was  diverted  by  the  disputes."  The  number  of 
hopeful  converts  in  this  congregation  was  60. 
The  present  number  of  the  chm-ch,  is  130.  Sam- 
uel Snowden,  Pastor. 

* 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  has  now  nine 
churches  and  2613  members.  1201  have  been  add- 
ed the  past  year.  It  is  now  little  more  than  half  a 
century  since  Methodism  first  obtained  a  perma- 


124  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

nent  footing  in  this  city.  Its  beginning  was  very 
feeble.  But  from  time  to  time  God  lias  poured 
out  his  Spirit,  and  enlarged  their  borders.  TUey 
have  performed  an  important  part  in  the  great 
work  of  restoring  evangelical  religion  to  this  city. 
They  shared  largely  in  the  blessing  bestowed  on 
us  during  the  last  winter  and  spring.  It  is  but 
justice  to  say  of  this  branch  of  the  great  family  of 
evangelical  churches,  that  they  are  enterprising, 
laborious  and  self-denying.  More  might  be  said, 
but  it  is  not  the  object  of  this  work  to  exalt  one 
denomination  above  another,  or  to  promote  secta- 
rian or  party  views.  It  is  rather  to  make  the  sev- 
eral evangelical  churches  in  this  city  better  ac- 
quainted with  each  other;  to  bring  them  to  see 
that  God  is  no  respecter  of  denominations  any 
more  than  of  persons.  The  true  church  of  God 
that  he  owns  and  blesses  now,  and  will  array  in 
linen  clean  and  white  hereafter,  is  not  confined  to 
one  denomination.  It  is  found  amons:  those  who 
believe  in  the  doctrine  of  atonement  and  the  ageu- 
cy  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  renewing  and  sanctifying 
the  hearts  of  men.  God  owns  these  several  branch- 
es of  his  church.  Why  should  they  not  own  each 
other?  God  loves  and  blesses  tliem.  Why  should 
they  not  love  and  bless  each  other?  These  are 
questions  that  we  could  not  well  refrain  from  ask- 
ing, in  view  of  what  God  has  done  for  the  different 
denominations  in  this  city.  We  have  looked  at 
these  churches  as  so  many  sisters  of  the  same  fam- 
ily, as  so  niany  branches  of  the  same  vine.     We 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAIi    CHURCHES-  125 

Lope  that  the  facts  contained  in  this  little  volume 
will  do  much  to  destroy  a  higoted,  sectarian  spirit, 
and  enlarge  the  heart  with  genuine  benevolence. 
If  it  shall,  in  any  good  degree,  promote  a  truly 
christian  catholic  sj)irit,  one  great  design  of  the 
editor  will  be  accomplished. 

Received  in  1842.  Whole  No. 

North  Bennett  Street,         530  866 

Bromfield  Street,  150  412 

Church  Street,  125  320 

South  Boston,  76  200 

North  Russell  Street,  150  430 

Fifth  M.  E.  Church,  50  92 

Odeon,  60  120 

East  Boston,  60 

Mr.  Snowden's,  60  130 


Total,  1201  2630 


CHAPTER  X. 

Seamen's  Bethel  Churcli — Freewill  Baptist  Church — German 
Lutheran  Church — German  Reformed  Lutheran  Church- 
African  M.  E.  Church— Wesleyan  M.  E.  Zion's  Church. 

Seamen's  Bethel  Church. 

This  society  was  formed  in  1829,  by  the  exertions 
of  Rev.  E.  T.  Taylor,  a  Methodist  minister.  He 
first  preached  in  the  old  Methodist  meeting-house 
in  Methodist  alley,  xq  seamen,    He  conliuued  here 


126  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

until  1832,  when  the  present  edifice  was  erectecT. 
A  blue  flag  is  displayed  here  on  the  Sabbath,  with 
the  word  "Bethel"'  inscribed  on  it. 

A  church  was  gathered  in  1836.  It  does  not 
stand  connected  with  any  particular  denomination. 
It  profe:^sedIy  receives  the  Bible,  as  its  articles  of 
faith  and  covenant.  This  society  is  under  the  pat- 
ronage of  the  "Boston  Port  Society."  Connected 
with  this  establishment,  is  the  "Bethel  Reading 
Room,"  nnder  the  charge  of  a  superintendent,  for 
the  special  benefit  of  seamen.  There  is  also  a 
^^ Bethel  Temperance  Society"  for  the  benefit  of  sai- 
lors, formed  on  the  principle  of  total  abstinence* 
Mr.  Taylor  has  exerted  a  salutary  influence  upon 
the  sailors.  Since  the  church  was  organized,  they 
have  received  ICO  members.  Its  present  number  is 
118;  received  the  last  year  12. 

The  good  that  is  accomplished  by  a  preacher  to 
seamen,  is  not  so  visible  as  where  a  congregation  is 
stationary.  The  impression  made  upon  a  station- 
ary congregation  is  manifested  at  different  times. 
A  congregation  of  sailors  is  continually  changing. 
Truth  may  take  hold  of  a  mind  in  Boston  and  re- 
sult in  his  conversion  at  sea,  or  in  a  foreign  port. 
A  seamen's  preacher  may  have  spiritual  children 
that  he  will  never  know  in  this  world.  He  may 
not  see  so  much  of  the  results  of  his  labor  as  the 
minister  of  a  stationary  congregation  ;  still  if  he  is 
faithful  to  his  Master,  he  will  receive  his  reward. 
Undoubtedly,  in  the  day  when  the  secrets  of  all 
hearts  shall  be  revealed,  it  will  appear  that  many 


FREEWILL    BAPTIST    CHURCH.  127 

sons  of  the  ocean  have  received  impressions,  at  the 
Bethel  church,  that  resulted  in  their  conversion. 

We  regret  to  learn  that  the  health  of  Mr.  Taylor 
has  failed,  and  that  his  physicians  have  directed 
him  to  take  a  voyage  to  China  for  its  restoration. 
May  the  Lord  bless  this  temporary  rest  from  his 
labors,  and  in  his  own  time  return  him  to  his  peo- 
ple with  invigorated  health  and  renewed  consecra- 
tion to  his  work  among  the  tribe  of  Zebulon. 

Freewill  Baptist  Church  in  Causeway  Street. 

This  church  was  organized  Dec.  1838,  with  11 
members.  "No  particular  seriousness,"  says  the 
pastor,  "  was  visible  earlier  than  the  first  of  Novem- 
ber. About  this  time  there  was  an  increase  of  zeal 
in  the  prayers  and  testimonies  of  the  metnbers  of 
the  church  in  the  vestry  meetings.  This  resulted 
in  an  increase  of  numbers  at  our  evening  worship, 
and  in  fact,  at  all  our  meetings.  By  the  first  of 
December  it  was  plain  to  be  seen  that  God  was 
among  us.  There  was  a  solemn  inquiry  among  the 
members  of  the  church  into  the  doctrine  of  j)erson- 
al  holiness,  or  entire  consecration  to  God.  Indeed, 
I  have  since  thought  that  the  meetings  that  were 
held  by  a  few  of  the  niembers  of  the  church  with 
special  reference  to  this  subject,  were  blest  of  God 
by  a  preparation  of  the  hearts  of  those  for  the  work 
that  followed.  By  the  middle  of  December  a  num- 
ber had  been  converted,  and  the  spirit  of  revival  was 
upon   the  church   and  many  of  the  congregation. 


128  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

Our  first  baptism,  I  think,  was  in  February,  when 
at  one  time  I  baptized  33,  who,  before  this  time,  had 
obtained  hope  in  Christ.  The  work  was  now  gen- 
eral with  us,  and  meetings  for  a  long  time  were 
holden  every  night.  I  baptized  in  all  about  80. 
As  to  agents  and  means,  I  will  only  say,  we  had  no 
help  but  from  heaven.  The  members  of  the  church 
were  the  principal  workmen,  and  prayer  and  testi- 
mony were  the  chief  means.  There  was  no  visit- 
ing from  house  to  house,  and  but  very  little  run- 
ning to  other  meetings.  We  have  no  evidence  that 
the  preaching  of  Elder  Knapp,  of  Mr.  Kirk,  of  Mr. 
Maffit,  or  of  any  others  that  visited  Boston  at  that 
time,  was  of  any  special  aid  in  the  work.  Indeed, 
it  was  thought  that  inasmuch  as  their  preaching  did 
occasionally  draw  away  some  of  our  laborers,  that 
it  was  rather  a  hindrance  than  a  help  to  us.  We 
have  had  but  few  cases  of  backsliding  since  the  re- 
vival, and  a  holy  influence  is  yet  lingering  upon  our 
assembly. 

Present  number  of  members,  160.  Rev.  Mr.  Hol- 
tnan.  Pastor. 

Gejiman  Lutheran  Church. 

During  the  last  ten  years  a  considerable  number 
of  Germans  have  collected  in  this  city.  In  1834,  a 
German  gentleman  commenced  holding  meetings. 
Rev.  Henry  G.  Smith  came  to  Boston  in  1836.  He 
succeeded  in  gathering  a  considerable  congregation. 
The  two  great  divisions  of  Protestants,  Lutheran  and 
Reformed,  were  united.    But  about  two  years  since 


GERMAN  R.  L.  CHURCH AF.  M.  E.  BETHEL.     129 

they  divided.  The  Lutheran  party  worship  in  a 
hall  at  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Castle  streets^ 
They  have  commenced  the  erection  of  a  church, 
and  have  completed  their  vestry.  This  church  has 
125  communicants ;  27  have  been  received  this  year. 
Rev.  George  U.  Brandau,  the  Pastor,  is  connected 
with  the  Lutheran  Synod  of  Pennsylvania. 

German  Reformed  Lutheran  Church. 

This  portion  of  the  German  population  separated 
from  the  other  about  two  years  since.  They  have 
attempted  to  unite  with  the  other  party,  but  they 
have  not  succeeded.  They  now  worship  in  Boyls- 
ton  Hall.  They  have  purchased  a  piece  of  land  on 
Suffolk  street  to  erect  an  house  of  worship.  They 
have  subscribed  among  themselves  $1200  for  this 
purpose,  and  have  appealed  to  the  public  for  help. 
They  have  200  communicants  ;  30  conversions  the 
last  year.  They  have  a  Sabbath  school  of  40  or 
50  children.     George  G.  Kempe,  Pastor. 

Aerican  M.  E.  Church,  Bethel. 

This  church  has  been  in  existence  12  or  14 
years.  This  branch  of  the  Methodist  family  are 
composed  entirely  of  people  of  color.  No  white 
men  belong  to  their  church.  This  church  has  no 
resident  ordained  minister.  Rev.  Mr.  Campbell,  of 
Providence,  visits  them  quarterly.  They  have  local 
preachers  who  exercise  their  gifts  in  the  absence  of 
the  minister  in  charge.  The  chinch  numbers  53 
members;  12  have  been  added  the  last  year. 


130  boston  revival. 

Wesleyan  M.  E.  Zion's  Church. 

This  church  was  gathered  June  13,  1838,  con- 
sisting of  30  members.  Mr.  Jehiel  C.  Beman  is  the 
pastor.  This  church  is  composed  entirely  of  col- 
ored people  who  have  no  connection  with  slavery. 
They  enjoyed  a  season  of  refreshing  from  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Lord  during  the  last  winter  and  spring. 
Since  Dec.  lust,  124  have  been  received  into  this 
church.  It  now  contains  205  members.  The  pas- 
tor thus  describes  one  of  the  scenes  of  the  revival. 

A  few  weeks  since,  I  received  an  invitation  from 
a  man  who  keeps  a  public  boarding-house  for  sea- 
men, in  Ann  street,  to  come  and  hold  a  religious 
meeting.  I  accepted  the  invitation, and  on  arriving 
at  the  place,  1  found  the  room  that  was  designed  for 
the  meeting,  was  one  forn)erly  occupied  for  dancing 
and  gambling.  The  people  gathered,  in  number 
about  75,  of  different  ages,  and  the  Spirit  of  the 
Lord  was  present  to  awaken  the  sinner.  The  cries 
for  mercy  were  loud  from  many,  which  continued 
until  tlie  meeting  closed.  The  invitation  for  ano- 
ther meeting  was  renewed, and  they  have  been  con- 
tinued for  several  weeks.  The  man  of  the  house, 
and  his  wife,  have  both  been  hopeftilly  converted; 
and  a  scene  in  one  of  the  meetings  was  affecting, 
as  the  man  of  the  house  arose  and  commenced 
telling  what  the  Lord  had  done  for  him,  and 
thanking  the  God  of  all  grace  that  his  heart 
was  changed,  and  that  his  house  had  become  a 
house  of  prayer,  and  that  the  room  that  used  to  be 
devoted  to  dancing,  drinking  and   gambling,  now 


WESLEVAN     M.    E.    ZION's    CHURCH.  131 

was  occupied  for  tlie  worsliip  of  the  Lord.  While 
ninkinq:  these  remarks,  he  was  interru[)ted  by'one 
of  his  former  associates,  vvlio  used  to  meet  in  the 
same  room  to  dance.  This  man,  however,  a  few 
weeks  since,  found  peace  in  believing.  The  inter- 
ruption was  this — "Did  I  not  join  you  on  Christmas 
night,  in  this  i)lace,  to  serve  tlie  enemy? — and  now 
we  have  met  beneath  this  roof  to  pray,"  said  he. 
"Thank  the  Lord,  that  we  have  been  spared  to 
meet  here  to  worship  the  King  of  kings,  and  Lord 
of  lords."  They  then  shook  hands,  and  praised  the 
Lord,  hand  in  hand.  And  while  they  were  thus  en- 
gaged in  g4ving  glory  to  him  who  died  to  save  pin- 
ners, the  effect  was  felt  by  all  otiiers  who  were  their 
associates  in  wickedness. 

Many  who  used  to  frequent  this  house,  and  have 
during  the  recent  revival,  found  pardon,  joined  wiih 
them,  saying,  "  Was  not  J  here  on  Christmas," — and 
another  and  another,  "  W\-js  I  not  here  likewise." 
One  njari,  with  grey  hairs,  who  has  seen  the  frosts 
of  many  winters,  said — "And  I  was  here  too,  and 
liave  often  been  here;  but  the  Lord  be  praised,  I 
trust  he  has  taken  my  feet  out  of  the  horrible  pit, 
end  put  a  new  song  in  my  mouilj,  even  praise  to 
our  God." 

Wliile  this  was  tlie  order  of  the  meeting,  and  the 
ohl  soldier  of  the  cross  was  |)raising  the  Lord  f(jr 
what  he  had  done  in  Ann  street,  and  in  this  j'amily, 
and  the  neighboring  fatJiilies  in  this  part  of  the  ciiy, 
the  unconverted  who  were  present  called  aloud — 
"  Lord,  what  shall  I  do  to  be  saved  ?" 


J32  KOSTON    REVIVAL. 

CHAPTER   XI. 

THE  VICINITY  OF  BOSTON. 

It  is  not  in  the  city  only  that  God  has,  dnrinor  the 
few  past  years,  turned  hack  the  captivity  of  Zion. 
The  same  spirit  has  been  shed  down  upon  the 
neighboring  towns.  Large  accessions  were  made 
to  nearly  all  the  evangelical  churches.  1  will  briefly 
notice  what  God  has  done  in  the  vicinity. 

Dorchester. — In  1808,  John  Codman,  D.  D., 
was  ordained  over  the  Second  church  in  Dorches- 
ter. He  very  early  refused  to  exchange  with  those 
who  had  departed  from  the  faith  of  the  gospel. 
His  church  numbers  340.  The  Village  church  in 
Dorchester,  which  is  a  colony  sent  forth  from  Dr. 
Cod  man's,  has  over  200  members.  The  Baj)tists 
have  a  church  near  Ne[)onset  bridge,  that  counts 
142  professors.  The  Methodists  also  have  a  church 
at  the  village. 

RoxBURY. — Twenty  years  ago,  the  number  of 
evangelical  professors  in  this  town  was  very  small. 
The  Baptist  church  was  gathered  in  1821  ;  now  has 
385  members.  The  Orthodox  chinch  in  the  First 
parish,  called  the  "Eliot  church,"  has  147  members. 
The  West  Roxbury  chiu-ch  contains  69  members: 
and  the  Methodists  have  a  church  in  the  First  parish, 
and  the  Baptists  have  recently  gathered  one  at  Ja- 
maica Plaius. 

Bkookline. — A  Baptist  church  was  organized  in 
this  town,  inl827,  and  has  168  members. 


CHURCHES    IN    THE    VICINITY.  133 

BaiGHTOiy. — An  Orthodox  church  was  gathered 
fit  Brighton  in  1828.  Since  its  organization,  300 
have  been  admitted  to  its  communion  ;  158  are  its 
present  number. 

Cambridge. — As  this  was  the  site  of  the  univer- 
sity that  had  forsaken  the  faith  of  the  fathers,  it  was 
to  be  expected  tljat  it  would  exert  a  deleterious  in- 
fluence upon  the  population  of  the  town.  Some 
12  or  15  years  ago,  tfje  church  connected  with  the 
First  parish,  was  exiled  from  the  house,  where  they 
and  their  fathers  liad  worshipped.  This  church 
has  160  members.  There  is  also  an  Episcopal 
church  at  Old  Cambridge.  In  1817,  the  Baptist 
church  was  gathered  at  the  Port.  It  now  numbers 
380  communicants.  The  Baptists  have  a  church 
likewise  at  East  Cam.bridge,  gathered  1827,  167 
members.  The  Trinitarian  chinch  at  Cambridge- 
port  was  organized  in  1828,  has  224  members. 
Last  spring  a  nutnber  of  persons  went  forth  from 
this  body  and  formed  anew  church:  and  a  new 
Orthodox  church  has  also  lately  been  gathered  at 
East  Cambridge.  During  the  past  season  the  Meth- 
odists have  erected  a  house  at  Cambridgeport,  and 
have  fair  prospects  of  building  up  a  good  society. 

Charlestoavn. — The  original  church  in  Charles- 
town  has  always  adhered  to  the  faith  of  the  fa- 
thers, and  has  about  300  communicants.  Winthrop 
church  was  gathered  in  1833,  counts  250  members. 
The  Baptist  church  has  394  communicants.  The 
]\Iethodists  and  Episcopalians  have  churches  here. 
11 


134  feOSTON    REVIVAL. 

Chelsea. — About  1828,  the  Orthodox  Congrega* 
lionalists  srathered  a  small  church  at  Chelsea  cen- 
tre.  Since  the  vil]ai:;e  has  been  formed  at  Winne- 
ehnmet,  the  Baptists  have  gathered  a  church  of  165 
members.  The  3'IethodiBts  and  Eijiscopalians  have 
also  organized  churches.  Sept.  1841,  an  Orthodox 
church  of  42  members  was  gathered,  and  now 
numbers  120. 

This  is  a  brief  sketch  of  the  progress  of  evan- 
gelical religion  in  the  suburbs  of  Boston.  The 
tone  of  public  sentiment  has  been  changed.  The 
city  and  its  suburbs  have,  to  a  great  extent,  been 
bromrht  back  upon  the  ground  of  our  Puritan 
fathers.  Their  memories  are  now  revered,  and 
not  as  in  former  years  made  the  frequent  sub- 
jects of  ridicule.  Nothing  has  made  New  England 
what  it  is,  but  the  influence  of  evangelical  religion. 
And  it  must  be  the  influence  of  the  same  senti- 
ments that  will  maintain  and  perpetuate  this  char- 
acter. 

.lust  as  far  as  the  spirit  of  the  revival  has  ex- 
tended, just  so  far  the  primitive  sj)irit  of  New  Eng- 
.  land  is  cherished.  Could  it  be  entirely  diffusiid 
through  the  city  and  its  suburbs,  the  very  spirit  that 
jdanted  the  churches  around  Massachusetts  Bay 
would  return. 

Boston  would  then  becotne  what  it  was  in  its 
early  history  when  an  Englishman  resided  here 
seven  years,  and  "  Neither  heard  an  oath,  nor  saw  a 
j)erso!J  drunk." 


CONCLUSION.  135 


CONCLUSION. 


In  reviewing  the  history  of  the  revival,  as  it  appeared 
in  Boston,  we  remark  that  special  prayer  precedes  a  re- 
vival of  religion.  Some  have  erroneously  supposed  that 
the  late  revival  in  this  city,  did  not  commence  until  after 
the  year  1842  began.  But  the  facts  that  have  been  de- 
veloped in  the  statements  made  by  several  of  the  church- 
es in  different  denominations,  prove  that  it  commenced 
in  the  year  1341.  The  revival  in  Garden  street  Church 
commenced  with  her  existence,  which  was  in  July,  1841. 
In  Bowdoin  street  Church,  a  spirit  of  prayer  was  mani- 
fested early  in  the  autumn.  The  same  was  true  re- 
specting Marlboro'  Chapel  and  Central  Church.  The 
pastor  of  the  South  Boston  Baptist  Church  says,  "that 
the  church  was  revived  some  months  before  the  reforma- 
tion commenced."  In  Mr.  Stow's  church,  the  revival 
commenced  in  the  autumn.  The  pastor  of  the  Bowdoin 
square  Church  says,  "  I  found  an  improving  religious 
feeling  among  my  people  throughout  the  autumn,  which 
gave  me  full  confidence  that  the  winter  would  develope 
results  of  the  most  animating  character."  The  same  was 
also  true  in  several  of  the  Methodist  churches.  From  a 
reference  to  these  testimonies,  it  is  evident  that  there 
was  an  awakened  spirit  of  prayer  considerably  extensive 
in  the  city  during  the  autumnal  months.  The  world  was 
not  indeed  aware  of  these  weepings  in  secret  places. 
Many  professors  of  religion  were  in  a  profound  sleep,  and 
as  busy  about  their  worldly  affairs  as  though  they  had 
never  been  bought  with  the  price  of  atoning  blood.  But 
still  the  number  was  not  small  that  cried,  day  and  night, 
'<  O  Lord  revive  thy  work.  For  Zion's  sake  I  will  not 
hold  my  peace,  and  for  Jerusalem's  sake  I  will  not  rest, 
until  the  righteousness  thereof  go  forth  as   brightness. 


136  BOSTON    REVIVAL. 

and  the  salvation  thereof  as  a  lamp  that  burneth,"  The 
Lord  heard  and  answered  these  prayers.  This  fact  is 
nothing  that  is  peculiar  to  this  revival.  God  always  has 
connected  ends  with  means.  When  he  restored  the 
children  of  Israel  from  Babylonish  captivity,  "  He  would 
yet  for  this  be  inquired  of  before  he  would  do  it  for  them." 
Daniel,  Ezra,  Nehemiah  and  others,  prayed,  fasted  and 
wept.  God  heard  their  prayers,  and  restored  them  to 
the  land  of  their  fathers'  sepulchres. 

Before  the  revival  at  the  day  of  Pentecost,  a  ten  days' 
prayer  meeting  was  held  in  that  upper  room  by  the 
primitive  disciples;  and  whenever  the  Holy  Spirit  has 
been  poured  out  in  our  day,  it  has  always  been  preceded 
by  prayer.  "  Prayer  moves  the  hand  that  moves  the 
world."  Tn  answer  to  prayer,  he  that  has  all  hearts  in 
his  hand  and  turns  them  as  the  rivers  of  water  are  turned, 
turns  them  unto  himself.  When  his  children  cry,  "  O 
that  thou  wouldst  rend  the  heavens,  that  thou  wouldst 
come  down  and  make  the  mountains  flow  down  at  thy 
presence,"  he  does  the  things  that  they  desire.  The 
heavens  are  rent,  God  comes  down  to  earth,  and  the 
mountains  melt.  He  turns  back  again  the  captivity  of 
Zion  as  streams  of  the  south.  Let  not  any  church 
vainly  imagine  that  God  will  visit  them  with  a  time  of 
refreshing,  if  they  are  living  in  a  prayerless  state. 
Prayers  must  go  up  before  blessings  come  down.  This 
is  the  instituted  ordinance  of  God.  His  injunction  is 
*'  Pray  without  ceasing."     "  Pray  always  and  not  fiint." 

2.  We  remark  that  it  is  essential  to  the  purity  of  re- 
vivals that  the  tests  of  christian  character  be  clearly 
stated. 

In  conducting  revivals,  nothing  is  more  important  to 
the  permanent  prosperity  of  the  church,  than  a  distinct 
delineation  of  the  traits  of  christian  character.  If  more 
or  less  than  the  gospel  terms  of  salvation  are  stated, 
sinners  will  take  up  with  false  hopes.  They  will  be  de- 
ceived and  lost  through  erroneous  instruction.  There 
rests  therefore  a  peculiar  responsibility  upon  those  that 
direct   the    inquiries   of  anxious    souls.     The    terms    of 


CONCLUSION.  137 

salvation  should  be  stated  clearly, —  nothing  kept  back, 
nothing  over  stated.     Nothing  should  be   made  essential 
to  christian  character  that  God   has   not  made  so.     Per- 
haps it  may  impart  some  light  on  this  subject,  to  show 
how   inquiring  sinners   felt  under  the  instructions   of  so 
pungent  and  discriminating  a   preacher  as  President  Ed- 
wards.    "  In  those  in  whom  awakenings  seem  to  have  a 
saving  issue,'"    says  Edwards,  "  commonly  the  first  thing 
that  appears  after  their  legal   trouble,  is  a   conviction    of 
the  justice  of  God  in  their  condemnation,  a  sense  of  their 
own  exceeding   sinfulness,  and  ihe   vileness   of  all   their 
performances.     In  giving  an   account   of  this   they    ex- 
pressed themselves  very   various;  some,  that  they  saw 
that  God  was  a  sovereign,  and  might  receive  others  and 
reject  them;  some,  that   they  were   convinced  that   God 
might  justly  bestow  mercy  on  every  person  in  the   town, 
and  damn  themselves  to  all  eternity;   some,  that  they  see 
that  God  may  justly  have  no  regard  to  all  the  pains  they 
have  taken,  and  all   the   prayers  they  have  made;   some, 
that  they  see  that  if  they  should  seek,  and   take  the   ut- 
most pains  all  their  lives,  God  might  justly  cast  them  into 
hell   at  last,  because  all   their  labors,  prayers   and    tears 
cannot  make  atonement  for  their  least  sin,  nor  merit  any 
blessing  at  the  hand  of  God ;  some  have   declared  them- 
selves to  be  in  the  hands  of  God,  that   he  can   and  may 
dispose  of  them  just  as  he  pleases;  some,   that  God   may 
glorify  himself  in  their  damnation;  and  they  wonder  that 
God  has  suffered   them  to   live  so  long,  and  has  not  cast 
them  into  hell  long  ago. 

*'  Commonly  persons'  minds,  immediately  after  the 
discovery  of  God's  justice,  are  exceedingly  restless,  and 
in  a  kind  of  struggle  and  tumult,  and  sometimes  in  mere 
anguish;  but  generally  as  soon  as  they  have  this  convic- 
tion it  immediately  brings  their  mind  to  a  calm  and  a  be- 
fore unexpected  quietness  and  composure;  and  most 
frequently,  though  not  always,  then  the  pressing  weight 
upon  their  spirit  is  taken  away,  and  a  general  hope  arises 
that  some  time  or  other  God  will  be  gracious,  even  be- 
ll* 


138  coNcrusiow. 

fore  any  distinct  and  particular  discoveries  of  mercy;  and 
often  they  then  come  to  a  conclusion  with  themseiveg 
that  they  will  lie  at  God's  feet  and  wait  his  time;  and 
they  rest  in  that,  not  being  sensible  that  the  Spirit  of 
God  has  brought  them  to  a  frame  whereby  they  are  pre- 
pared for  mercy;  for  it  is  remarkable  that  persons  when 
they  first  have  this  sense  of  God's  justice,  rarely,  in  the 
time  of  it,  think  any  thing  of  its  being  that  liumiliation 
that  they  have  often  heard  insisted  on,  and  that  others 
experience. 

"  In  some  cases  their  sense  of  the  excellency  of  God's 
justice  in  their  condemnation,  and  their  approbation  of  it, 
was  such  that  they  almost  called  it  '  a  willingness  to  be 
damned.'  But  Edwards  thought  that  this  language 
must  have  been  used  without  any  clear  idea  of  its  im- 
port, and  must  have  meant  only  that  salvation  appeared 
too  good  for  them;  and  that  the  glory  of  God's  justice 
ought  not  to  be  sacrificed  for  their  sakes.  That  calm  of 
spirit  that  some  persons  have  found  after  their  legal  dis- 
tresses, continues  some  time  before  any  special  and  de- 
lightful manifestation  is  made  to  the  soul,  of  the  grace  of 
God  as  revealed  in  the  gospel;  but  very  often  some  com- 
fortable and  sweet  view  of  a  merciful  God,  of  a  sufficient 
Redeemer,  or  of  some  great  and  joyful  things  of  the  gos- 
pel, immediately  foliov»^s,  or  in  a  very  little  tim.e;  and  in 
some  the  first  sight  of  their  desert  of  hell,  and  God's 
sovereignty  with  respect  to  their  salvation,  and  a  discov- 
ery of  sufficient  grace,  are  so  near,  that  they  seem  to  go 
as  it  were  tosether. 

"It  has  more  frequently  been  so  among  us  that  when 
persons  have  first  had  their  gospel  ground  of  relief  for 
lost  sirmers  discovered  to  them,  and  have  been  entertain- 
ing their  minds  with  sweet  prospects,  they  have  thought 
nothing  at  the  time  of  their  being  converted.  To  see 
that  there  is  such  an  all-sufficiency  in  God,  and  such 
plentiful  provision  made  in  Christ,  after  they  have  been 
borne  down  and  sunk  with  a  sense  of  their  guilt  and  fears 
of  wrath,  exceedingly  refreshes  them.  The  view  is  joy- 
ful to  them  as  it  is  in  its  own  nature  glorious,  and  gives 


BOSTON    REVIVAL.  139 

them  quite  new  and  more  delightful  ideas  of  God  and 
Christ,  and  greatly  encourages  them  to  seek  conversion, 
and  begets  in  them  a  strong  resolution  to  give  themselves 
up,  and  to  devote  their  whole  lives  to  God  and  his  Son, 
•and  patiently  wait  until  God  shall  see  fit  to  make  all 
effectual ;  and  very  often  they  entertain  a  strong  persua- 
sion, that  he  will  in  his  own  time  do  it  for  them. 

There  is  wrought  in  them  a  holy  repose  of  soul  in  God 
through  Christ,  and  a  secret  disposition  to  fear  and  love 
Him,  and  to  hope  for  blessings  from  Him  in  this  way. 
And  yet  they  have  now  no  imagination  that  they  are  now 
converted  ;  it  does  not  so  much  as  come  into  their  minds; 
and  very  often  the  reason  is,  that  they  do  not  see  that 
they  do  accept  of  this  sufficiency  of  salvation  that  they  be- 
hold in  Christ,  having  entertained  a  wrong  notion  of  ac- 
ceptance, not  being  sensible  of  the  obedient,  and  joyful 
entertainment  which  their  hearts  give  to  the  discovery  of 
grace,  in  a  real  acceptance  of  it.  They  know  not  that 
the  sweet  complacency  that  they  feel  in  the  mercy  and 
complete  salvation  of  God,  as  it  includes  pardon  and  sane- 
tsfication,  and  is  held  forth  to  them  only  through  Christ, 
is  a  true  receiving  of  his  mercy  or  a  plain  evidence  of 
receiving  it.  They  expected,  I  know  not  what  kind  of 
act  of  the  soul,  and  perhaps  they  had  no  distinct  idea  of 
it  themselves." 

Such  is  Edwards'  account  of  the  religious  experience  of 
the  converts  of  Northampton  in  the  "  Great  awakening," 
or  rather  this  took  place  before  1740.  It  is  manifest  that 
he  preached  the  law  in  all  its  length  and  breadth.  It  had 
performed  the  work  upon  their  souls.  He  had  also  held 
up  Christ  as  an  all-sufficient  Saviour.  These  converts 
submitted  entirely  to  God's  will.  They  justified  the  law 
that  condemned  them,  and  ascribed  their  salvation  to  rich 
and  free  grace;  and  under  such  discriminating  instructions 
as  Edwards  gave,  the  number  that  would  rest  in  false 
hopes,  would   be  few. 

Edwards'  converts  could  say  in  the  language  of  Watts, 


140  BOSTON    REVIVA.L. 

"  Should  sudden  vengeance  seize  my  breath, 
I  must  pronounce  lliee  just  in  death  3 
And  if  my  soul  were  sent  to  hell. 
Thy  righteous  law  approves  it  well." 

Still  they  would  add   the  petition  contained  in  the  next 
verse, 

"  Yet  save  a  trembling  sinner,  Lord, 
Whose  hope,  still  hovering  round  thy  word, 
Would  light  on  some  sweet  promise  there, 
Some  sure  support  against  despair." 

3.  We  remark,  that  it  has  been  God's  method    in  past 
ages  to  build  up  his  church  mostly  by  revivals  of  religion. 
Some  in  this  era  of  light,  pretend  that  revivals  of  reli- 
gion are  new  things  under  the  sun;  that  they  are  got  up  for 
party  purposes  by  craft  and  cunning.     But  such  persons 
can  never  have   studied  the   word  of  God    with   care,  or 
they  would  have  seen   that   under  the   old   dispensation, 
God  had  set  times   to  favor  Zion.     God  poured   out  his 
Spirit  upon  the  generation  who  were  born  in  the  wilder- 
ness.    They  served  the  Lord  all  the  days  of  Joshua.     In 
the  days  of  Jehosaphat,  Asa,  Josiah  and  Hezekiah,  there 
were  great  and  glorious  revivals  of  pure  and  undefiled  re- 
ligion.    The  same  also  look  place  when  the  Jews  were 
returned    from   Babylonish  captivity.     On  these  several 
occasions,  the  whole  nation  entered   into   covenant  with 
God  anew.     At  the  commencement  of  the  christian  era, 
there  was  a  great  and  glorious  revival  of  genuine  religion. 
These  seasons    constituted    the    glory    of  the    primitive 
church.     They  lasted  until  the  church  was  amalgamated 
with  the  state.     When  the  church  became   secularized, 
worldly  in  her  temper  and  spirit,  revivals  ceased.     Little 
was  heard  of  them  from  the  sixth  up  to  the  sixteenth  cen- 
tury.    At  the  era  of  the   Reformation,  when  the  gospel 
was  again  preached  in  its  primitive  purity,  the  Holy  Ghost 
returned  once  more  upon  the   nations  of  Europe.     The 
English  Puritans   were  the  zealous  advocates  of  revivals. 
In   the  spirit  of  revivals,  Winthrop    and    his    company 
founded  the  churches  around  Massachusetts  Bay.     During 


CONCLUSION.  141 

the  first  thirty  years  of  their  existence,  they  enjoyed 
a  continual  revival.  In  1740,  the  spirit  of  revival  re- 
turned upon  these  churches.  All  the  ministers  of  Boston, 
with  the  exception  of  Dr.  Chauncy,  were  the  decided 
friends  of  this  revival.  Thousands  and  thousands  flocked 
to  hear  Mr.  Whitefield  and  the  Tennants  preach.  Early 
in  the  present  century,  the  spirit  of  revival  returned  upon 
the  two  Baptist  churches,  and  the  Old  South.  Before 
this,  almost  the  whole  city  had  apostatized  from  the  faith 
of  the  fathers.  When  the  enemy  came  in  like  a  flood, 
the  Lord  lifted  up  a  standard  against  him.  The  Lord  be- 
gan to  turn  back  the  captivity  of  Zion. 

The  city  has  now  forty-five  congregations,  where  the 
fundamental  doctrines  of  the  gospel  are  preached.  Du- 
ring the  past  year,  more  than  4000  individuals  have  been 
added  to  these  churches.  This  is  the  most  extensive 
revival  that  this  city  has  ever  witnessed,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  1740.  It  is  one  of  those  special  seasons  of  mercy 
with  which  God  has  always  been  accustomed  to  build  up 
his  church.  It  has  made  good  people  better,  elevated 
their  piety  and  increased  all  their  christian  graces.  In 
the  progress  of  the  work,  many  Sabbath-breakers  have 
been  taught  to  "  Remember  the  Sabbath  day  to  keep  it 
holy."  Many  that  took  the  name  of  the  Lord  in  vain,  now 
bless  and  extol  his  holy  name.  A  considerable  num- 
ber of  venders  of  "distilled  damnation,"  (to  use  the 
words  of  Robert  Hall,)  hnve  ceased  to  traffic  in  it,  and 
have  enlisted  under  the  banner  of  temperance  that  waves 
high  in  the  air.  Some  that  had  defrauded  their  neighbors, 
have  confessed  their  sin  and  made  restitution.  Large 
number.?  who  are  in  the  dew  of  their  youth,  have  sub- 
scribed with  their  own  hands  unto  the  Lord.  JMany  that 
were  resting  in  false  systems  of  religion,  have  forsaken 
their  refuges  of  lies,  and  i)uilt  their  hopes  upon  ihe  stone, 
the  tried  stone,  the  chief  corner-stone,  elect,  precious. 
In  one  word,  the  results  of  this  revival  have  been  such  as 
to  honor  God  and  magnify  the  ri-hes  of  his  grace. 

4.  We  remark  that  the  church  must  not  depend  on 
men  or  measures  to  revive  religion. 


14*-^  BOSTON    REVIVAL.. 

At  the  present  day,  in  some  instances,  there  has  been 
an  improper  reliance  on  men  and  measures.  Some 
churches  have  supposed  that  if  they  could  have  such  and 
such  a  man  for  their  minister,  that  they  should  surely 
have  a  revival  of  religion  ;  or  could  a  particular  course 
of  measures  be  adopted,  they  should  infallibly  secure  the 
gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  But  it  must  be  understood  that 
no  particular  men,  or  any  set  of  measures,  will  necessari- 
ly secure  the  Holy  Spirit.  It  is  written,  "  Cursed  is  he  that 
trusteth  in  man."  All  the  eloquence,  learning  and  talent, 
in  the  whole  church,  cannot  secure  the  conversion  of  a 
single  soul.  God  has  committed  the  work  of  converting 
souls  to  the  church  in  her  organized  capacity.  Every 
pastor,  deacon,  and  church  member,  has  his  sphere 
assigned  him.  He  is  responsible  for  the  duties  of  the 
station  where  he  is  placed.  He  cannot  work  by  proxy. 
His  own  growth  in  grace  and  spiritual  enjoyment  depend 
upon  his  fidelity  and  activity.  He  cannot  be  watered 
himself,  except  he  attempts  to  water  others.  All  that  is 
needful  for  a  continual  revival  is,  that  every  individual 
christian  live  near  to  God,  and  perform  with  fidelity  the 
daily  duties  that  devolve  on  him.  The  continual  bless- 
ing that  will  come  upon  such  a  man  is  described  in  the 
first  Psalm.  ♦'  Blessed  is  the  man  that  walketh  not  in  the 
counsel  of  *the  ungodly,  nor  standeth  in  the  way  of  sin- 
ners, nor  sitteth  in  the  seat  of  the  scornful.  But  his  de- 
light is  in  the  law  of  the  Lord  ;  and  in  his  law  doth  he 
meditate  day  and  night.  And  he  shall  be  like  a  tree 
planted  by  the  rivers  of  water,  that  bringeth  forth  his 
fruit  in  his  season  ;  his  leaf  also  shall  not  wither,  and 
whatsoever  he  doeth  shall  prosper."  A  church  and  its 
officers  composed  of  such  men,  avoiding  every  sin,  and  ac- 
tively engaged  in  doing  good,  will  not  labor  in  vain.  God 
will  not  be  unmindful  of  them.  He  will  bless  them  and 
render  them  blessings  to  others.  They  will  see  the 
pleasure  of  the  Lord  prosper  in  their  hands.  Harlan 
Page  continually  saw  the  fruit  of  his  labor.  A  church 
composed  of  such  men,  would  see  a  constant  ingathering 
of  souls.     But  if  this  spirit  of  sacrifice  and  active  engaged- 


CONCLUSION.  ]43 

tiess  be  lacking  in  a  church,  nothing  can  be  substituted  in 
its  place.  No  men  coming  from  a  distance,  no  new 
measures  of  human  device,  can  infuse  life  into  a  dead 
church.  No  forms  of  godliness  will  necessarily  give  the 
power.  Dependence,  then,  must  not  be  placed  upon  men, 
or  measures,  but  upon  God  through  his  own  appointed 
institutions.  Nothing  can  possibly  be  substituted  for  the 
holy  living  of  the  church.  If  dependence  is  placed  upon 
men,  or  measures,  independent  of  Him  that  uses  men  and 
measures  as  instruments,  leanness  will  be  sent  into  the 
soul;  all  hope  of  success,  built  on  this  foundation,  will  be 
blasted. 

5.  We  remark  that  in  view  of  what  God  has  done  for 
the  evangelical  churches  of  Boston,  they  ought  to  conse- 
crate themselves  anew  to  the  work  of  converting  souls. 

It  is  only  a  few  years  since,  that  almost  the  whole  city 
had  aBandoned  the  faith  of  the  Puritan  fathers.  Another 
gospel  had  been  introduced.  All  the  original  Congrega- 
tional churches  but  one,  had  embraced  errors  that  the 
Puritans  viewed  subversive  of  the  gospel.  When  eight 
of  the  most  serious  men  in  this  congregation  met  and 
formed  a  society  for  their  religious  iniprovement,  none  of 
them  had  confidence  sufficient  to  lead  in  social  prayer. 
Now  this  denomination  have  14  organized  churches,  and 
more  than  5000  members.  At  that  period  the  Baptists 
had  three  churches,  now  they  have  nine,  and  more  than 
4000  members.  At  the  same  time  the  Episcopalians  had 
two  churches,  and  now  they  have  six,  and  more  than  1300 
members.  The  Methodists  had  then  two  churches,  and 
now  they  have  9,  and  2613  members. 

The  Freewill  Baptist  church  has  also  been  organized 
since  that  period.  Then  there  were  eight  evangelical 
places  of  worship,  and  now  there  are  forty-five.  These 
forty-five  churches  contain  14,029  members,  and  4042 
have  been  added  the  past  year.  Such  is  a  brief  view  of 
what  God  has  done  for  evangelical  religion  in  this  city. 
May  we  not  with  propriety  adopt  the  language  of  the 
pious  Israelites  that  were  returned  from  Babylonish  cap- 
livity?     "  When  the  Lord  turned  a^ain   the  captivity 


144  BOSTON     REVIVAL. 

of  Zlon,  we  were  like  them  that  dream.  Then  was  our 
mouth  filled  with  laughter,  and  our  tongue  with  sing- 
ing; then  they  said  among  the  heathen,  the  Lord  hath 
done  great  things  for  them.  The  Lord  hath  done  great 
things  for  us,  whereof  we  are  glad.'^  Since  the  meet- 
ing of  these  eight  men  that  could  not  pray,  the  Lord  hath 
done  great  things  for  this  city.  He  has  laid  evangelical 
christians  under  very  great  and  peculiar  obligations. 
Their  inquiry  should  be,  "  What  shall  we  render  unto  the 
Lord  for  all  his  benefits?  What  can  we  do  to  shew  forth 
his  praise  ?"  Much  remains  yet  to  be  done.  There  is 
very  much  land  to  be  possessed.  But  He  that  has  so  far 
reclaimed  the  city  is  able  to  reclaim  the  whole.  Satan 
has  not  a  single  strong  hold  that  he  is  notable  to  demolish, 
nor  a  single  high  thing  that  he  is  not  able  to  bring  low. 
He  can  exalt  every  valley,  make  every  mountaio  and 
hill  low,  every  crooked  path  straight,  and  every  rough 
place  plain.  He  can  cause  the  banner  of  the  Cross  to 
wave  high  in  the  air,  over  this  whole  city,  redeemed  and 
renovated.  In  view  of  what  God  has  done,  we  may 
justly  entertain  raised  expectations  of  what  he  still  pur- 
poses to  do.  He  will  yet  make  her  walls  salvation,  and 
her  gates  praise.  The  motto  of  every  friend  of  Zioii 
should  be,  "  Expect  great  things,  attempt  great  things." 
Why  should  not  this  be  our  motto  ?  Has  not  God  prom- 
ised great  and  glorious  things  respecting  Zion,  the  city  of 
our  God  ?  Does  he  raise  our  expectations  only  to  disap- 
point them  ?  He  is  not  man  that  he  should  lie,  nor  the 
son  of  man  that  he  should  repent.  Hath  he  spoken  it, 
he  will  also  do  it.  Hath  he  promised  it,  he  will  also 
bring  it  to  pass.  No  christian  in  this  city  should  feel  that 
his  work  is  done,  so  long  as  any  thing  remains  to  be 
done.  He  is  enlinsted  during  the  war.  The  conflict  will 
continue  until  death.  In  view  of  what  God  has  already 
done,  let  every  christian  consecrate  himself  anew  to  ihe 
work,  and  never  give  over  until  the  whole  city  is  reno- 
vated. 


NOTE,  145 


NOTE. 

The  meeting-house  of  which  we  have  given  a  view  on 
the  first  page,  was  erected  in  1632.  Towards  tlie  erec- 
tion of  this  house,  and  building  of  a  parsonage,  120 
pounds  were  contributed.  Its  site  was  on  State  street,  at 
the  corner  of  Congress  street.  Its  roof  was  thatched, 
and  its  walls  were  of  mud.  I  suppose  that  at  first  it 
was  a  regular  built  log  cabin,  plastered  with  mud  inside, 
and  an  embankment  thrown  up  on  the  outside  against  the 
logs.  Such  was  the  humble  temple  in  which  our  pilgrim 
fathers  worshipped  the  God  whom  they  came  over  to 
serve.  It  had  none  of  the  elegance  of  our  modern 
churches.  No  rich  and  splendid  drapery  hung  around  its 
pulpit.  No  velvet  cushions  covered  its  seats.  No  deep 
toned  organ  discoursed  eloquent  music,  when  the  praises 
of  God  were  sung.  It  was  such  an  house  as  fitted  their 
humble  circumstances. 

In  1639,  the  congregation  meditated  the  rebuilding  of 
the  house  of  worship.  It  had  become  too  small  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  people.  But  there  was  some  dif- 
ference of  opinion  among  the  brethren  where  it  was  to  be 
located.  Some  were  for  placing  it  on  what  was  called 
the  Green,  which  was  the  lot  that  the  Old  South  Church 
now  owns,  at  the  corner  of  Milk  and  Washington  streets. 
Others,  particularly  the  tradesmen,  were  inclined  to 
build  it  still  nearer  the  market  than  where  the  old  one 
stood,  lest  in  time  it  should  divert  the  trade  from  thence. 
12 


146  NOTE. 

When  the  church  met,  the  matter  was  debated  with  some 
earnestness,  and  at  last  Mr.  Cotton  thought  proper  to  ex- 
press his  opinion.  He  made  it  clear  that  it  would  be  in- 
jurious to  remove  to  the  Green,  as  many  persons  had 
purchased  and  settled  around  the  market  in  the  expecta- 
tion of  being  accommodated  in  their  nearness  to  the  place 
of  worship,  whereas  it  would  be  no  damage  to  most  to 
have  it  by  the  market  place.  It  was  finally  determined 
to  erect  the  new  church  still  nearer    the  market. 

The  church  standing  on  the  site  of  the  second  house 
next  the  corner  of  Washington  and  court  streets  was  ta- 
ken down  in  1808. 

The  First  church  now  worships  in  Chauncy  Place. 


POETRT.  147 


BOSTON  REVIVAL,  1842. 

BY    WM.    B.    TAPPAN. 

The  Holy  Dove  hath  spread  its  wings 

Around  the  mercy  seat,  where  springs 

The  penitential  tear. 

And  hearts  that  long  resisted  grace, 

Are  melted  at  that  awful  place 

By  salutary  fear; 

And  Love  that  can  the  vilest  win, 

To  hate  of  self  and  hale  of  sin. 

Unnumbered  households  gather  round 

The  spot  where  Bethel's  God  is  found, — - 

Households  that  never  knelt. 

The  sinner  of  threescore,  whose  head 

Blossomed,  accursed,  for  the  dead, — 

Bosoms  that  never  felt. 

Counting  for  Christ  the  world  but  loss. 

Subdued,  are  found  beneath  the  cross. 

And  yet  rolls  by  Redemption's  car, 

And  yet  burns  brightly  Mercy's  star, 

And  on  the  converts  come  ! 

Say,  who  are  these,  that  as  a  cloud 

Fly  past,  and  as  a  snowy  crowd 

Of  doves  that  seek  their  home, 

Come  trooping  through  Salvation's  gates. 

Where  Love  the  happy  pilgrim  waits  ? 


14S  POETRY. 

These  are  the  young  men,  fresh  and  strong, 

Grace  their  preserver,  Grace  their  song; 

These  are  the  maidens,  fair, 

Whose  early  beauties  bloom  for  God. 

And  men,  life's  passage  halfway  trod, 

And  children,  too,  are  there. 

The  rich  and  poor,  the  young  and  old, 

Are  gathered  in  the  shepherd's  fold. 

Pass  on,  Redeemer  !  take  thine  own, 

Assume  thy  crown  and  purchased  throne; 

I,et  Kirk's  sweet  numbers  tell 

Of  heaven,  that  stoops  so  low  to  save  ; 

Let  Knafh,  undaunted,  earnest,  grave, 

Show  up  the  depths  of  hell; — 

They  both  but  trophies  win  for  Thee  ; 

Thine,  only,  shall  the  glory  be. 

Pass  on.  Redeemer  !  shield  each  flock 

Through  burning  wastes,  Refreshing  Rock, 

In  this  our  weary  land  ! 

Let  Pastors,  by  the  Spirit  blest, 

Lead  converts  up,  till  in  thy  rest 

Pastors  and  people  stand  ; — 

They  all  but  trophies  win  for  Thee  ; 

Thine,  only,  shall  the  glory  be. 


\f 


DATE  DUE 

1 

HIGHSMITH  m 

(5230 

Printed 
*nUSA 

BW4204.8.B7M8 

Boston  Revival,  1842  :  a  brief  history 


Princeton  Theological  Semmary-Speer  Library 


1    1012  00052  9190 


Twenty-First  Edition 36,000  Copies ! ! 

The  publisher  of  the  Revival  Melodies,  in  issu- 
ing the  twenty-first  edition,  would  express  his 
thanks  to  his  friends  and  the  religious  community 
for  their  kind  approbation  and  almost  unexampled 
patronage.  The  present  edition  swells  the  whole 
number  of  copies  already  issued  to  36,000,  and  the 
demand  continues. 

Price  12  1-2  cents  single — $9  per  hundred. 


REVIVAL    MELODIES. 

PART    II. 

Fourth  Edition, 7,000  Copies. 

t^rhe  great  popularity  of  the  "Revival  3Ielodies" 
and  its  acknowlellged  utility  in  the  conference 
room,  have  indu^ied  the  pubiisiier  to  issue  another 
work  of  a  siujilar  ch;tracter.  It  has  been  his  aim 
to  carry  out  more  fully  the  plan  of  the  first  parr, 
and  to  meet  existing  wants  in  the  ^OQial  religious 
circle. 

Price  12  1-2  cents  single — $9  per  hundred. 

f'^7^  The  above  may  be  had  in  separate  parts,  or 
bound  together. 

JOHN  PUTNAM,  81  Cornhill. 

I'EH.  22,  1843. 


■<^ 


